Recent Modalities in Management of cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare tumor arising from the biliary tree (intrahepatic & extrahepatic). Bile duct cancer affects men slightly more than women and usually later in life (between 50 and 70 years of age). The pathology of cholangiocarcinoma is mainly adenocarcinoma but very rarely squamous cell carcinoma. Cholangiocarcinoma may be one of three types, intrahepatic, extrahepatic and distal according to the site of origin within the biliary tree. The main presentation of cholangiocarcinoma is usually painless obstructive jaundice in 90% of cases which includes clay colored stools, dark urine and pruritus. The symptoms also include weight loss, abdominal pain and abdominal mass or hepatomegaly.