Hilar cholangiocarcinoma: Cross sectional evaluation of disease spectrum

• Main Authors: Mangal S Mahajan, Srikanth Moorthy, Sreekumar P Karumathil, R Rajeshkannan, Ramchandran Pothera
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2015-04-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging
• Subjects: disease spectrum; hilar cholangiocarcinoma; magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography; multi-detector computed tomography
• Online Access: http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.4103/0971-3026.155871

Although hilar cholangiocarcinoma is relatively rare, it can be diagnosed on imaging by identifying its typical pattern. In most cases, the tumor appears to be centered on the right or left hepatic duct with involvement of the ipsilateral portal vein, atrophy of hepatic lobe on that side, and invasion of adjacent liver parenchyma. Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) are commonly used imaging modalities to assess the longitudinal and horizontal spread of tumor.