Cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an uncommon but lethal cancer arising from the bile duct epithelium. The clinical presentation depends on the site of origin and stage of the malignancy. The surgical and medical management’s success rate relies highly on early diagnosis. However, there is no specific symptom that will help diagnose the disease at an early stage, which explains CCA’s poor prognosis at the time of diagnosis. Resection with microscopically negative margin (R0 resection) and consideration for a caudate lobectomy, coupled with nodal dissection for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is critical in providing the most favorable outcome. Portal vein embolization followed by extended radical resection, which generally involves major liver resection, and neoadjuvant therapy followed by liver transplantation are options for patients with advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.