Cholangiocarcinoma is cancer arising from the bile ducts; it includes intrahepatic, perihilar and distal types.
What is this condition?
Anatomical location directly affects the surgical approach.
Signs and symptoms
Jaundice, itching, dark urine, pale stools and weight loss may occur; intrahepatic tumors may appear as liver masses.
Diagnostic assessment
Imaging defines location, vascular relationships and extent; drainage and tissue diagnosis may require multidisciplinary planning.
General treatment framework
Surgery can be potentially curative for localized resectable disease; advanced disease is managed with systemic and symptom-directed treatments.
Role of surgery
Intrahepatic tumors may require liver resection, perihilar tumors combined liver/bile duct resection, and distal tumors a Whipple procedure.
