In 16 patients with carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile ducts, percutaneous transhepatic portography (PTP) and cholangiography (PTC) were performed. Fourteen of these patients also had angiography, which failed to show the tumor in 7 cases. Findings indicating non-extirpability of the tumor were demonstrated by angiography in 3 patients. At PTP non-extirpability was confirmed in these cases. PTP further indicated non-extirpability in one patient and gave hints of infiltration of the liver by the tumor in 5 patients because of intra or extrahepatic invasion of the portal vein.