Chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents and biliary-pancreatic cancer: report of three cases

This paper describes three men, aged 45 years or younger, who developed cholangio, ampullary, and pancreatic cancer after prolonged heavy exposure to trichlorinated hydrocarbon solvents. Two of these patients had exposure to other potential carcinogens, and one had a strong family history of cancer. The association between chlorinated hydrocarbons and biliary-pancreatic cancer has also been suggested by other reports in the recent literature. Exposure to trichlorinated hydrocarbon solvents is a risk factor for the development of biliary and pancreatic cancer.