Abstract
We experienced a case of carcinoma of the papilla of Vater showing polypoid growth in the bile duct. A 71-year-old male was referred to our department with a chief complaint of right hypochondralgia. Laboratory data was normal except highγ-GTP leve1. US showed dilatation of the bile duct and CT indicated the presence of a tumor in the lower common bile duct. Subsequent ERCP revealed a large polypoid tumor in the lower common bile duct. The tumor was about 65mm in maximum length and easily changed shape with compression. Cancer of the lower common bile duct was suspected and the patient underwent surgery. The tumor was found to be a papillary adenocarcinoma of the papilla of Vater arising from the epithelium of the bile duct mucosa within the ampullary portion. It had a stalk, and invasion was confined to the mucosa. This case does not fit the criteria established by general rules for surgical and pathological studies on cancer of biliary tract. To understand the nature of this type of cancer, it is important to realize the presence of cases such as this one.
