Korean J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Surg.  2015 May;19(2):86-88. 10.14701/kjhbps.2015.19.2.86.

Gallbladder neck cancer and perihilar cholangiocarcinoma - siblings, cousins or look alikes?

• Kapoor VK

• KMID: 2243056
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14701/kjhbps.2015.19.2.86

Abstract

The gallbladder neck cancer and perihilar cholangiocarcinoma present as painless progressive surgical obstructive jaundice. Sometimes it becomes difficult to differentiate between them even on cross-sectional imaging studies including computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Staging laparoscopy and positron emission tomography may be useful in detecting metastases in gallbladder neck cancer, but are not recommended in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. Most patients with gallbladder neck cancer and perihilar cholangiocarcinoma require preoperative biliary drainage. The differentiation is, however, important because their behavior and prognosis are totally different. Gallbladder neck cancer is biologically aggressive, thus long-term surviver are rare even after major resection. On the other hand, perihilar cholangiocarcinoma is often less aggressive and major proceduresresections are justified. Gallbladder neck cancer and perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, though not siblings, they tend to look alike sometimes.

Keyword

Gallbladder neck cancer; Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma

MeSH Terms

Cholangiocarcinoma*
Drainage
Gallbladder*
Hand
Head and Neck Neoplasms*
Humans
Jaundice, Obstructive
Laparoscopy
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Neoplasm Metastasis
Positron-Emission Tomography
Prognosis
Siblings*

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