Biliary tract invasion and obstruction by hepatocellular carcinoma: report of five cases.

Major biliary tract obstruction caused by tumour invasion is a rare manifestation of hepatocellular carcinoma. The authors had the opportunity to diagnose and treat five such cases, three of whom had features of acute cholangitis. The prevalence of both hepatocellular carcinoma and recurrent pyogenic cholangitis is high in patients from the Far East. The former may first present under the guise of the latter. Gastroenterologists and surgeons should be aware of hepatocellular carcinoma when managing these patients who present with obstructive jaundice, gross hepatomegaly and cholangitis.