[Neoplasms of the extrahepatic bile ducts. A clinical study of 44 cases]

44 clinical cases, histologically diagnosed as suffering from extrahepatic bile duct neoplasia, admitted at the "Hospital Foral de Navarra" during the years 1976 to 1985 and at the "Hospital Clinico Universitario de Salamanca" during the period from 1981 to 1987, were analysed. Our results showed a higher incidence in the female sex. The most important antecedent was biliary stone lithiasis (45.45%). Jaundice and abdominal pain were the most frequent symptoms and liver enlargement accompanied by jaundice were the most frequent clinical signs on physical examination. The data obtained did not show specificity at the diagnosis. The ERCP showed a high rate of diagnosis (71.43%) followed by CT scanning (70%) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (52.63%). The types of surgery most frequently performed were cholecystectomy and choledochoduodenostomy, and the diagnosis of well-differentiated carcinoma was found in 63.64% of the cases. Any therapy performed (surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy) improved the survival rate.