Cholangiocarcinoma

Biliary tract cancer or cholangiocarcinoma is a rare tumor. The natural history of these tumors is poorly understood. Their diagnosis is often made at a late stage which explains the poor prognosis of this disease with a short median survival. Anatomically there are 3 forms: intrahepatic hilar and extrahepatic. These differ clinically biologically and in their management. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is currently the examination of choice for making the diagnosis and establishing the extent of the disease so that appropriate management can be planned. The only curative treatment is surgery. If the tumor is unresectable the main therapeutic objective is to suppress jaundice and pruritus in order to improve quality of life. The aim of this book is to present the epidemiological and clinical aspects of cholangiocarcinoma its diagnostic and imaging features and its therapeutic management.