of the Common Bile Duct

(Received Februaryl O, 1994) Five patients with papillary adenocarcinoma of the common bile duct (CBD) are described. These are rare tumors and make up 5% of all malignant tumors of the biliary tract. The symptomsand signs at the time ofinitial diagnosis resemble benign obstructive lesions ofthe bile ducts. The tumor is soft, less invasive to adjacent tissues and tends to grow into the lumen. The early onset of the symptoms results in early intervention, with a better prognosis. Two of our patients are doing well after two and four years, where as three others were readmitted with recurrent disease.