GIST is a rare neoplasm, the majority of GISTs are located in the stomach and small intestine. Most GISTs are diagnosed histopathologically after resection because of submucosal location. A 37-year-old female patient presented with a 2-weeks history of generalized weakness, nausea accompanied by intermittent passage of black, tarry stools. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and ERCP showed a large round mass measuring 5 cm in diameter in the ampulla of Vater with ulcer crack. Endoscopic multiple biopsies from the mass including ulcer base were taken. Light microscopic findings showed spindle-shaped and epitheloid tumor cells having high cellularity and frequent mitotic figures. On immunohistochemical stainings, the tumor cells were positive for CD34 and smooth muscle actin. Based on these preoperative findings, a diagnosis of malignant GIST of the ampulla of Vater was made probably. After operation, immunohistochemical studies revealed positive reaction for c-kit and vimentin, as well as focally reactive for CD34 and smooth muscle actin. We report a case of GIST in the ampulla of Vater presenting with melena that was diagnosed preoperatively and postoperatively.
Adult ; *Ampulla of Vater ; Common Bile Duct Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors/*diagnosis/pathology ; Humans

Leiomyomas, originating in the bile duct, are very rare, and only few cases have been reported in the literature. We experienced a case of leiomyoma of the distal common bile duct, mimicking bile duct cancer. A 39-year-old woman presented with intermittent jaundice and general weakness for three months. Clinical profiles showed obstructive jaundice, and the abdominal computed tomography and cholangiography revealed diffuse bile duct dilatation with distal common bile duct stricture. A pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed and the pathologic specimen disclosed leiomyoma of the common bile duct accompanying severe fibrosis. This is the first case of leiomyoma in the bile duct reported in Korea.
Adult ; Common Bile Duct Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyoma/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy

The patient was a 70-year-old male whose chief complaints were obstructive jaundice and weight loss. Abdominal imaging studies showed a 2.5 cm sized mass at the distal common bile duct, which was suggestive of bile duct cancer. Eccentric enhancing wall thickening in the transverse colon was also shown, suggesting concomitant colon cancer. A colonoscopy revealed a lumen-encircling ulcerofungating mass in the transverse colon, that was pathologically proven to be adenocarcinoma. The bile duct pathology was also adenocarcinoma. Pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy and extended right hemicolectomy were performed under the diagnosis of double primary cancers. Postoperative histopathologic examination revealed moderately differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma of transverse colon cancer, and mucinous adenocarcinoma of the distal common bile duct. Immunohistochemical staining studies showed that the bile duct cancer had metastasized from the colon cancer. The patient recovered uneventfully from surgery and will be undergoing chemotherapy for three months.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous* ; Aged ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; Bile Ducts ; Colon, Transverse* ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colonoscopy ; Common Bile Duct Neoplasms ; Common Bile Duct* ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Jaundice, Obstructive* ; Male ; Mucins* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Pathology ; Weight Loss

Schwannomas or neurilemmomas are uncommon tumors arising from schwann cells of neural sheath, which most frequently affect the extremities, trunk, head and neck area. Moreover, benign schwannoma in the porta hepatis is extremely rare. Approximately, 2 cases of benign schwannoma in the porta hepatis have been reported in the literatures. We report a case of benign schwannoma in the porta hepatis occurring in a 53-year-old woman who was asymptomatic and incidentally found to have a mass. Abdominal CT scan showed a 4.5 cm-sized low attenuating mass with septum-like enhancing solid portion at porta hepatis. Abdominal exploration revealed a yellowish, cystic and encapsulated mass attached to portal vein, common bile duct, liver and duodenal wall above the hepatoduodenal ligament. There has been no evidence of recurrence during 11 months of follow-up.
Common Bile Duct/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; *Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis/pathology ; Middle Aged ; *Neurilemmoma/diagnosis/pathology ; Portal Vein/pathology

Neuroendocrine tumors of the extrahepatic biliary tree are extremely rare malignancies accounting for 0.2-2.0% of all gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors. Neuroendocrine tumors obstructing the biliary tree are extremely difficult to diagnose preoperatively and nearly impossible to differentiate from cholangiocarcinoma. Statistically, the most common anatomic location in the biliary tree is the common bile duct, followed by the perihilar region. Herein, we present a case of a small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the hilum in a 79-year-old man following laparotomy. To our knowledge, this is the first case of small cell type neuroendocrine carcinoma of hilar bile duct reported in Korea.
Aged ; Bile Duct Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hepatic Duct, Common/pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Neuroendocrine Tumors/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prognostic implication of common bile duct infiltration in the adenocarcinoma of the ampulla of Vater after panreaticoduodenectomy.

METHODSA retrospective study was conducted on clinical manifestation, pathological behavior and survival data in 102 patients with Vater's ampulla adenocarcinoma, who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy from Jan 1980 to Dec 2003. The result of patients with the common bile duct infiltration were compared with that of those without.

RESULTSThere were 42 cases in stage I (41.2%), 32 in stage II (31.3%), 27 in stage III (26.5%), and 1 in stage IV (1.0%). As for T stage: 9 cases in stage T1 (8.8%), 40 in T2 (39.2%), 25 in T3 (24.5%), and 28 in T4 (27.5%). As regarding to N stage: 76 cases in stage N0 (74.5%) and 26 in N1 (25.5%). Of these 102 cases, microscopic infiltration in the common bile duct (25.0%) was identified in 26 cases. A significant difference was observed between the patients with bile duct infiltration and those without, in the proportion of pancreatic medullae infiltration: 84.6% (infiltration group) versus 34.2% (non-infiltration group, P < 0.001). Twenty-five cases (24.5%) had recurrence and/or metastases postoperatively, with a median survival of 20 months (range, 2 to 93 months). The overall median survival of the whole group was 46.0 months (2 approximately 192 months), with a significant difference between the common bile duct infiltration group (36 months) and the non-infiltration group (49 months, P = 0.0061). The median non-recurrence survival of the whole group was 43 months (2 approximately 192 months), and a significant difference was observed between the common bile duct infiltration group (35 months) and non-infiltration group (47 months, P = 0.0002).

CONCLUSIONIf the adenocarcinoma of the Vater's ampulla infiltrated the common bile duct, the invasion to the pancreatic medulla is likely developed, and usually with a poor non-recurrence and overall survival. Therefore, postoperative chemotherapy/radiotherapy is suggested.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Ampulla of Vater ; Common Bile Duct ; pathology ; Common Bile Duct Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

The diagnostic accuracy of percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS) was compared to that of three radiologic modalities in distal common bile duct (CBD) strictures for the evaluation of clinical application. Ninety-five patients who underwent PTCS for the evaluation of distal CBD strictures (35 malignant and 60 benign) whose masses were not obvious from radiologic imagings were included. Confirmative diagnosis could not be reached by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or radiologic findings in all cases. Specific findings on the computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and direct cholangiography were analyzed among 68 (25 malignant and 43 benign) out of the 95 patients in order to determine the sensitivity and specificity of three radiologic studies for the diagnosis of malignant distal CBD strictures, and to compare those results with those by a combination of PTCS-guided biopsy and tumor vessel observation on cholangioscopy. The sensitivity/specificity of CT, MRCP and direct cholangiography including ERCP in diagnosing malignant distal CBD strictures were 42.9%/65.8%, 53.3%/58.3%, and 70.8%/47.6% respectively, while it was 96%/100% for the combination of PTCS-guided biopsy and tumor vessel. PTCS is a useful method for differential diagnosis of distal CBD strictures, particularly when it is difficult to distinguish benign from malignant strictures by radiologic studies and when peroral approach is not feasible.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; Common Bile Duct Diseases/*diagnosis/pathology ; Common Bile Duct Neoplasms/*diagnosis/pathology ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Endoscopy, Digestive System/*methods ; Endosonography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Amputation neuroma or traumatic neuroma is a tumor-like secondary hyperplasia that may develop after an accidental or surgical trauma. Amputation neuroma of the bile duct has occasionally been reported which occurred in the cystic duct stump late after the cholecystectomy. However, even if the amputation neuroma is suspected in a patient with late-onset jaundice after cholecystectomy, the differential diagnosis from a malignancy is difficult preoperatively. We experienced a case of the amputation neuroma of common bile duct (CBD) developed in a 70-year-old man who presented with a polypoid mass in CBD. He had undergone cholecystectomy 25 years ago and choledochojejunostomy 12 years ago, respectively. We have performed pylorus-preserving pancreatico-duodenectomy (PPPD) under the impression of CBD cancer. He had not been diagnosed of amputation neuroma until having undergone PPPD. We report a case of CBD neuroma mimicking CBD cancer, which was confirmed after PPPD.
Aged ; Common Bile Duct Neoplasms/*diagnosis/radiography ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Male ; Neuroma/*diagnosis/pathology/radiography ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; S100 Proteins/immunology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A case of hepatoma presenting as extrahepatic biliary obstruction due to hemobilia is reported. The patient, a 49-year-old woman, developed jaundice of the obstructive type after a history of B-viral hepatitis. On laparotomy, the liver revealed macronodular cirrhosis without any noticeable mass. A 4-cm sized friable tissue and blood clots were identified within the distended left hepatic duct. Pathologic examination of this tissue confirmed the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma extended in the hepatic duct.
Bile Duct Obstruction, Extrahepatic/*etiology/pathology ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*complications/pathology/surgery ; Case Report ; Common Bile Duct/pathology ; Female ; Hemobilia/*complications ; Human ; Liver Cirrhosis/diagnosis ; Liver Neoplasms ; Middle Age

A case of hepatoma presenting as extrahepatic biliary obstruction due to hemobilia is reported. The patient, a 49-year-old woman, developed jaundice of the obstructive type after a history of B-viral hepatitis. On laparotomy, the liver revealed macronodular cirrhosis without any noticeable mass. A 4-cm sized friable tissue and blood clots were identified within the distended left hepatic duct. Pathologic examination of this tissue confirmed the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma extended in the hepatic duct.
Bile Duct Obstruction, Extrahepatic/*etiology/pathology ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*complications/pathology/surgery ; Case Report ; Common Bile Duct/pathology ; Female ; Hemobilia/*complications ; Human ; Liver Cirrhosis/diagnosis ; Liver Neoplasms ; Middle Age