Invasion of the lumen of the bile ducts by hepatocellular carcinoma.

The purpose of this investigation was to ascertain the prevalence and manifestations of tumorous invasion of the lumen of the bile ducts, a mode of local extension characteristic of hepatocellular carcinoma. In a series of 140 necropsied patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, tumorous invasion of the bile duct was noted in three patients (2.1%). Marked cholestasis was present in these three patients; the other manifestations related to the tumorous invasion of the bile duct were biliary pain in one and gall-bladder enlargement in two patients.