EPITHELIAL EXPANSION OF BILE DUCT CARCINOMA

Abstract

The mode of expansion of bile duct carcinoma in the longitudinal direction was investigated in 24 surgical or autopsy specimens with special reference to the problem of epithelial invasion.
In 5(21%) of these 24 cases the epithelial invasion was more extensive than the longitudinal nonepithelial invasion within the duct wall, the maximal discrepancy being no less than 26.2mm. In some of these cases, the main focus of the carcinoma was so-called"early cancer", the extent of the lesion being confined within the duct wall.
These findings seem to be of great clinical significance in relation to the problem of residual cancer cells and the recurrence of carcinoma after surgical resection of bile duct carcinoma.