Biliary cystadenocarcinoma of extrahepatic duct origin arising in previously benign cystadenoma.

A case of biliary cystadenocarcinoma arising from the common hepatic duct in a 47-yr-old woman who had two previous attempts at cure by local excision of a then-benign biliary cystadenoma is reported, adding further evidence that resection is the preferred treatment of these tumors, even when histologically benign. A review of the literature and of pertinent clinical and pathological features of the 32 previously reported cases is included.