[First laser irradiation of a bile duct carcinoma under endoscopic control]

For the first time a hepatic-duct carcinoma was treated palliatively with percutaneous endoscopic Neodym-YAG laser irradiation. This enlarged the lumen of the bile duct encased by tumour. The method can be combined with prosthetic as well as radiotherapeutic procedures. The equipment consists of an ordinary choledochoscope and a laser apparatus. The choledochoscope merely needs minimal technical modification of the outer valve of its working channel. Biopsies under endoscopic control make it possible to obtain tissue samples adequate for histological examination before treatment is begun.