Three Cases of Unresectable Cholangiocarcinoma Diagnosed after Removal of Hepatolithiasis by Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangioscopy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Hepatolithiasis is common in east Asia, but rare in the Western world. Recently, epidemiologic study on Korea gallstone disease showed that the portion of patients with hepatolithiasis among total gallstone patients is 14.1%. Hepatolithiasis is the cause of recurrent cholangitis and it is that risk factor of liver abscess, hepatic failure, or sepsis. Also, biliary cirrhosis and cholangiocarcinoma were developed from hepatolithiasis. The incidence of cholangiocarcinoma associated with hepatolithiasis is about 2.4~10% . We present three cases of unresectable cholangiocarcinoma diagnosed after removal of hepatolithiases by percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy.

A Case of Early Bile Duct Carcinoma in Which Cholangioscopy and MR Cholangiography Were Useful in the Diagnosis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Most patients with bile duct carcinoma are diagnosed at an advanced stage, commonly after the appearance of jaundice. The prognosis is generally poor when the diagnosis is made at this stage. Early diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma at a nonicteric stage may more likely allow curative resection. Initial workup of suspected biliary tract obstruction begins with noninvasive radiologic examinations including US and CT, but these and with even ERCP have a limitation in the diagnosis of early bile duct carcinoma. A case of intrahepatic early bile duct carcinoma without jaundice in a 53-year-old man, is herein reported. The lesion could be early diagnosed, especially with the use of MR cholagiography and percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic examination, and eventually could be completely resected.