Carcinoid tumours of the biliary tract

Data on 13 patients, including two not previously reported, with carcinoid tumours of the biliary tract are reported. In ten of them the primary tumour was located in the gallbladder and in three in the biliary duct. No specific symptoms were recorded, and the carcinoid syndrome has not been reported in carcinoid tumours of the biliary tract. In five patients the tumour was first found at autopsy. Metastases were found in three patients at operation or autopsy. Cholecystography can show either a functioning or a non-functioning gallbladder. Some patients had concretions in the gallbladder. The prognosis appears to be good, and one of the patients reported survived 20 years with metastases.