To summarize the methods of diagnosis and operation of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Clinical data of surgical procedures, operative complications and survival rate of 42 cases with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma were analyzed retrospectively,and the related archives were reviewed.

In this cases, the correct diagnostic rate before operation was 64.3%, the CA19-9 positvie rate was 90.5%. Among them, 25 cases underwent radical resection, 17 cases palliative operation, the cumulative survival rate at the 1-, 2- and 3-year after radical resection were 64%(16/25), 36%(9/25) and 12%(3/25) respectively. The cumulative survival rate sat the 1-, 2- and 3-year after palliative resection were 17.6%(3/17), 5.8%(1/17) and 0 respectively.

Early diagnosis, corrected evaluation and reasonable surgical procedure can improve the curative effect of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and decrease the rate of the operative complication and mortality.