Metastatic oat cell carcinoma of the lung producing extrahepatic bile duct obstruction

Although carcinoma of the lung metastatic to the pancreas is not unusual in autopsy series, it is rare as a cause of extra-hepatic bile duct obstruction among the living. We have reported two cases of oat cell carcinoma of the lung in which the first sign of metastatic disease was extrahepatic bile duct obstruction. Ultrasonography provides a quick, direct, and noninvasive means of evaluating such obstruction, allowing early diagnosis and surgical palliation.