| Theme | Diagnosis of Biliary Tract Cancer -- Present Status and Perspective | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Diagnosis and Treatment of High-risk Biliary Tract Cancer Diseases | |
| Publish Date | 2003/07 | |
| Author | Hirokazu Nishino | Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Jikei University, School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] | The number of bile duct cancer cases has increased in Japan since 1958. This was especially so in 2000, when the mortality rate was ranked sixth among malignant tumors in women. It is clear epidemiologically that cholelithiases, pancreaticobiliary maljunction, and choledochal cysts are high-risk factors associated with bile duct cancer. These clinical diagnoses are usually made by diagnostic imaging such as US, EUS, MRCP, ERCP. Clinical issues connected with high-risk disease are silent gallstones and pancreaticobiliary maljunction without common bile duct dilatation. In silent gallstone cases, follow up study by US is necessary one or two times in a year. In cases of pancreaticobiliary maljunction without dilatation of the common bile duct, a consensus of opinion is that a cholecystectomy should be performed, but the resection of the extrahepatic bile duct in preventing biliary carcinogenesis still remains controversial. The diagnosis and clinical issues related to high-risk diseases, such as cholelithiasis, pancreaticobiliary maljunction, choledochal cyst in bile duct cancer was summarized. |
|