Segmental Resection of the Common Hepatic Duct for Carcinoma

Abstract

CARCINOMAS of the extrahepatic suprapancreatic bile ducts are not often amenable to resection and long-term survivals are rare indeed. As Brown et al¹have cited, the difficulty in making an early diagnosis, the spread of these tumors to adjacent vital structures, and the technical limitations of surgery in this region contribute to the overall poor outlook for these patients. In the last six years we have encountered three patients who were found at laparotomy to have carcinomas of the common hepatic duct which had not extended widely. These three cases will be reported since segmental resection of the tumors could be performed with the expectation of a better than usual prognosis and since two patients have already had a prolonged postoperative survival. <h3>Report of Cases</h3><h3>Case 1.</h3> —After six weeks of unrelenting jaundice and pruritus accompanied by dark urine and light stools this 66-year-old man sought hospital admission. He