Extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma

Abstract

Thirty patients with extrahepatic bile duct carcinomas were reviewed. Resection provides a chance of cure and long-term palliation. Of five patients who had resection, one has been alive and well for 10 years while the mean survival of the remaining four was 26.5 months. When resection is not possible, biliary decompression improves significantly survival. Fourteen patients with satisfactory biliary decompression had a mean survival of 11.3 months; while 10 patients with comparable stage of disease and no biliary decompression had a mean survival of 2.8 months (p < 0.01). Hilar hepatojejunostomy provides a solution to a difficult surgical problem following resection in the hepatic hilum when duct to mucosa anastomosis is not possible due to the multiplicity of secondary biliary ductal openings.