title: Staging of hilar cholangiocarcinoma with ultrasound.
abstract: The preoperative assessment of the extent of biliary and vascular involvement by hilar cholangiocarcinoma is clinically important because resectability may be limited by tumor extension along the bile ducts into the hepatic parenchyma or to the adjacent hilar vessels. Thirty-five patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma were studied with ultrasound, and the results were compared with operative findings and other diagnostic modalities. The level of intrahepatic biliary obstruction was determined in 100% of patients with ductal ectasia, and a tumor mass was shown in 37.1%. Imaging and Doppler ultrasound proved accurate in detecting the neoplastic involvement of the portal vein. Both correctly diagnosed portal occlusion and wall infiltration in 4 of 4 and 15 of 18 (83%) patients, respectively, without any false-positives. On the contrary, imaging ultrasound had poor sensitivity in detecting infiltration of the hepatic artery (43%) and metastases in regional lymph nodes (37%), liver (66%), and peritoneum (33%). In conclusion, ultrasound may be valuable in the preoperative staging of hilar cholangiocarcinoma, specially in predicting ductal and portal involvement.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiology, University of Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Neumaier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bertolotto
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perrone
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinoli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Loria
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Silvestri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology