Diagnosis and treatment of mucinous tumor of the bile duct: our experience on 11 patients

Abstract

Objective To study the diagnosis, treatment and therapeutic results of 11 patients who suffered from mucinous tumor of the bile duct. Methods Eleven patients who were diagnosed to suffer from mucinous tumor of the bile duct were retrospectively studied. Three patients who presented with obstructive jaundice were diagnosed on ERCP, and 8 patients who had extra-and intrahepatic cholangiolithiasis were diagnosed by biopsy during choledochoscopy. Results One of the 3 patients who underwent ERCP died from obstructive jaundice after failed drainage of bile using endoscopic nasobiliary drainage (ENBD). The remaining two patients underwent laparoscopic common bile duct exploration and T tube drainage. The eight patients who had extra-and intrahepatic cholangiolithiasis were diagnosed by biopsy during choledochoscopy. Conclusions The clinical presentation of mucinous tumor of bile duct is non-specific and the preoperative misdiagnosis rate is high. Common bile duct exploration, T tube drainage and long-term T tube drainage is a good way to treat mucinous tumor of the bile duct. Key words: Mucinous tumor of bile duct; Choledochoscope; Precancerous lesions