title: Multiple tumors of the biliary tract.
abstract: Multiple synchronous tumors of the extrahepatic biliary tree are not frequently reported. Over a 2-year period, 54 operative procedures were performed for tumors of the extrahepatic biliary tract or periampullary region. In five of these cases, unsuspected tumors were observed. Of these, one patient had multiple benign papillomatosis of the extrahepatic biliary tree. All four of the other patients were found to have unsuspected small carcinomas of the gallbladder in association with mid- or low bile duct cancer. Multiple tumors of the extrahepatic biliary apparatus may occur more frequently than previously thought, and the incidence of unsuspected gallbladder cancer in association with bile duct cancer may be high. These tumors should be suspected and looked for in each instance by intraoperative endoscopy and careful histologic examination of the gallbladder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University of Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gertsch
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lerut
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Blumgart
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D001661:Biliary Tract Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003138:Common Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010212:Papilloma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies