Carcinoids of the common bile duct: A case report and literature review

Carcinoids of the extrahepatic bile ducts and particularly the common bile duct are extremely rare. A 65-year-old woman presented with obstructive jau ndice. Laboratory and imaging studies gave results that were consistent wit h an obstructing lesion in the common bile duct. In this case, a stent was inserted initially to decompress the bile ducts. Subsequently a laparotomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy were per formed and a tissue diagnosis of carci noid of the common bile duct was made. The patient was well with no evidenc e of recurrence 17 months postoperatively. The authors believe this is the 19th reported case of an extrahepatic bile duct carcinoid.