Diagnosis and treatment of primary extrahepatic bile duct tumors

Sixty cases of primary bile duct carcinoma were reviewed. Diagnosis was greatly facilitated by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, and in eight patients the presence of a malignant tumor was established by percutaneous needle aspiration for cytologic diagnosis. No patients were cured. Palliation may be achieved by resection or biliary diversion. Ten patients were treated by percutaneously placed intraductal iridium-192 plus external radiation.