[The cytological study of the bile in the diagnosis of pancreatobiliary cancer].

Treatment of 46 patients with mechanical jaundice of the inflammatory-calculous and tumorous nature is described. In 26 patients with external drainage of the bile ducts the cytological investigation of 3-5 morning portions of bile was performed. The lavage fluid was studied in 4 cases. On the basis of the findings of these cytological investigations carcinoma was diagnosed in 20 of 24 patients with tumorous processes (83.3%). A comparison of data obtained by histological and cytological investigations in 19 patients operated upon was made.