Small cell carcinoma of the bile duct diagnosed by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) . Case report

Abstract

A 40-year-old man came to our hospital because of jaundice. CT showed a contrast-enhanced tumor in the lower bile duct, and peripheral dilatation. Cholangiography revealed a filling defect in the lower bile duct. A transpapillary biopsy revealed no evidence of neoplastic cells. Endoscopic ultrasonography showed a hypoechoic tumor in the lower bile duct. We made a diagnosis of small cell carcinoma based on the EUS-FNA findings and treated the patient with chemotherapy.
Small cell carcinoma of the bile duct system is rare and difficult to diagnose. Based on our experience, EUS-FNA can be useful for making a histological diagnosis of bile duct tumors that are impossible to diagnose by transpapillary biopsy or cytology.