Carcinoid tumor of the biliary duct

Abstract

Carcinoid tumors which arise from enterochromaffin cells are usually found in the appendix, ileum, bronchus and rectum. Biliary duct carcinoids are exceedingly rare. Pre-operative diagnosis is very difficult because they mimic the signs and symptoms of choledocholithiasis. We report a case of biliary duct carcinoid. A 38-year-old woman admitted with signs and symptoms of obstructive jaundice. ERCP demonstrated an obstruction in the common bile duct. A choledochotomy T drainage was performed. Histopathologically the mass which was removed from the common bile duct was a carcinoid tumor. There are only nine cases of biliary duct carcinoid in the literature to date. These cases are reviewed.