Summary
After a two-year history of recurrent abdominal pain, an 84-year-old man presented
with acute pancreatitis and obstructive jaundice. An endoscopic retrograde cholangiogram
demonstrated two filling defects approximately 1.0 cm in diameter, in a dilated common
bile duct.
Endoscopic papillotomy was performed which resulted in a polypoid tumour delivering
itself into the wound followed by a free flow of bile. In addition, a single 1.0 cm
gallstone was removed from the common bile duct, above the tumour, using a Dormia
basket. The patient recovered completely. Histological examination of biopsies of
the tumour taken on three subsequent occasions showed it to consist only of inflammatory
tissue (an inflammatory polyp) and later, regenerating bile duct mucosa. After six
months this tumour had completely regressed.
Key words:
Jaundice - Bile duct tumour - Papillotomy
