[Image of tumorous obstructions of the extrahepatic bile ducts in computer tomography]

Basing on a patient material consisting of 28 patients with tumours in the region of the extrahepatic bile ducts, the following criteria are examined which govern the demonstration of tumour obstructions by means of the computer tomogram: Extent of widening of the bile ducts, assessment of stenosis or complete obstruction of the bile ducts and demonstration of the structure of the tumorous tissue and of the tumorous infiltration into the adjacent tissues. Computerized tomography of this region can achieve a narrowing-down of the indications for an endoscopic or percutaneous visualization of the bile ducts, these being more severely invasive methods.