[Reflexions on carcinomas of the extra-hepatic bile ducts].

The authors present 12 cases of true malignant ampulloma and 23 cases of carcinoma of the biliary tract (MBT). They analyze frequency, symptomatology, pathology, radiology, treatment and results. They stress that decreasing malignancy is in the following order: cancer of the MBT, cancer of the gallbladder, and ampulloma. The latter is the least lethal with the most long-term cures. As to cancer of the MBT no cure is to be expected, but palliative surgery (resection or tumor by-pass) will bring temporary cure; consequently this should always be tried when possible despite the high operative mortality.