[Evaluation of the spread of cancer of the exocrine pancreas and biliary tract].

The assessment of pancreatic and biliary tract carcinoma extension obviously depends on the possibilities of treatment. Resection being the only treatment of these malignancies, the assessment must be conducted in such a way as to search for its contra-indications, and it will deal successively with the patient's operability, the distal extension of the tumour (thoracic CT scan, Abdominal CT scan, ultrasonography of the liver and abdomen) and its local and regional extension (ultrasonography of the liver and pancreas, transparietal transhepatic cholangiography, angiography). If these examinations show no formal contra-indication to surgery, then exploratory laparotomy will be performed to determine whether the operation is technically feasible and whether it should consist of resection or palliative bypass.