2016 Volume 30 Issue 5 Pages 828-835
Detailed endoscopic findings of the bile duct mucosa have not been fully established. This is a fundamental ex vivo study to assess the association between magnifying endoscopic findings and histopathological findings of the bile duct mucosa. 41 common bile ducts, which were surgically resected, were enrolled in this study. Oval-shaped, depressed areas and a fine, regular network of microvessels were the characteristic features of normal bile duct mucosa, and inflammation obscured these findings. Especially in cases with severe inflammation, a wide variety of vessels and mucosal architectures were observed. Distinguishing neoplasm from non-neoplasm may be difficult in some cases with severe inflammation. With regard to delineating tumor margin, tumor margin was clearly seen only in papillary type tumors, owing to mucosal structure and the characteristic vessels which were observed only in papillary type tumor. On the other hand, it was very difficult to detect tumor margin of nodular type tumor, especially in case with severe inflammation.
