Cholangiocarcinoma is an adenocarcinoma of the biliary duct system. It is a rare cancer with an incidence of 1-2:100,000. Its risk factors may include environmental exposures such as polyvinyl chloride or Thorotrast (thorium dioxide); however, this is controversial. It is also associated with the parasite opisthorchis viverrini and clonorchiasis - liver fluke. Other risk factors include hepatolithiasis, congenital liver disorders, thorotrast and ulcerative colitis - commonly when associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis. It is NOT associated with hepatitis B or liver cirrhosis.

Cholangiocarcinoma is considered curable only by surgical resection, and very often the disease is discovered too late for successful surgery. Chemotherapy has traditionally been seen as largely ineffective, but the chemotherapy agent gemcitabine (Gemzar) is often prescribed. Recently, there has been some success with the GFLIP protocol (Gemzar, 5-FU, leucovorin, irinotecan, and cisplatin or oxalyplatin), a protocol first developed and shown to be useful for pancreatic cancer.

See also

• Bilirubin
• Liver function tests
• Primary sclerosing cholangitis
• Klatskin tumor

External links

• Cholangiocarcinoma Support Group Forums
• cholangiocarcinoma.org :: a resource for patients, friends, caregivers and loved ones.

Hepatology | Oncology | Types of cancer