7 CASES OF CARCINOMA OF THE DISTAL COMMON BILE-DUCT

Seven patients with carcinoma of the lower third of the extrahepatic b ile duct over a twenty year period, were analyzed with emphasis to the presentation, laboratory, surgical findings, histology and outcome. T here were four males and three females. The mean age was 59 years (ran ge 53 to 68). All patients presented jaundice, abdominal pain and weig ht loss. Serum bilirubin levels were over 5 mg/dL in six patients (86% ). The most useful diagnostic studies were endoscopic cholangiography, percutaneous cholangiography and computed tomography. All patients un derwent a Whipple procedure. There was no operative mortality. In the long term follow-up, three patients were free of disease, and four had died. Tumor recurrence was high (43%) in spite of the curative resect ion.