[Diagnosis and surgical treatment of cancer of the gallbladder and extrahepatic bile ducts].

Data on 148 cases of cancer of the gallbladder and extrahepatic bile ducts were studied. Jaundice proved the cardinal symptom. No clear-cut clinical picture of the disease was identified. Diagnostic procedure should start with ultrasonography. Cholangiectasia and the enlarged pancreatic head make the case for fiber bronchoscopy and hypotonic duodenography. Cancer-negative patients should further undergo transcutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and, if proving still negative, retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Resection of bile ducts with simultaneous lymphadenectomy is considered radical. The authors suggest a surgical procedure for cancer of the gallbladder which includes resection of the liver, hepatico-choledoctomy and cholecystectomy with formation of cholangio-jejuno-anastomosis using disposable transhepatic drains. Recanalization of bile ducts by transhepatic drain is considered optimal for palliation. Survival depends upon extent of surgery and level of bile duct obstruction.