[Diagnosis and treatment of bile duct tumor thrombus in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE

Tumor thrombus in the bile duct (BDT) is very rare in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The prognosis of the patients with BDT is very poor. To improve the prognosis, HCC patients with BDT were retrospectively reviewed.

METHODS

Retrospective study was performed in 16 cases of HCC with BDT found in authors' institute from July 1987 to Oct. 1998. Factors affecting prognosis were analyzed.

RESULTS

The occurrence rate of BDT as 0.76% (16/2100). Removal of BDT and HCC was performed in all but one patients. Fourteen patients were followed-up for over 1 year after operation. The 1-year survival and recurrence rate was 71.4% (10/14) and 57.1% (8/14), respectively. Three female patients survived over 4, 6, and 12 years, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Early detection and diagnosis, surgical removal of primary tumors and BDT are the key points to prolong the survival time of patients.