BENIGN TUMORS OF THE BILIARY TRACT

Benign tumors of the biliary passages are rare and are seldom considered in the differential diagnosis of obstructive jaundice. The number of recorded cases is increasing, and it is apparent from the case histories that failure to discover the tumor may result in disaster. Recently, at the New York Hospital, we have had opportunity to observe and to operate on a patient with obstructive jaundice caused by a large papilloma arising in the left hepatic duct and obstructing the common bile duct. This case stimulated us to review the literature and is the subject of this report.

Benign intrahepatic tumors, apparently originating from the smaller biliary radicals, are commoner than lesions of the main biliary passages. According to Ewing,¹ cysts may arise within cirrhotic livers from obstruction of the ducts and are usually multiple and small. Not infrequently, congenital cysts of the liver are associated with polycystic disease of