Cholangioscopic findings in bile duct tumors.
BACKGROUND
Cholangioscopy has been used in the treatment of bile duct stones and the diagnosis of various bile duct tumors. However, the cholangioscopic characteristics of the various types of bile duct tumors have not been clearly described. We analyzed the results of cholangioscopic examinations and classified the findings according to tumor histology.


METHODS
Cholangioscopic findings from 111 patients with benign or malignant bile duct tumors were reviewed. The mucosal changes, the presence of neovascularization, and the patterns of luminal narrowing were analyzed and compared with the histologic diagnosis.


RESULTS
Bile duct adenocarcinoma can be classified into 3 different types according to the cholangioscopic findings: nodular, papillary, and infiltrative. Bile duct adenoma, hepatocellular carcinoma and other types of bile duct cancer such as mucin-hypersecreting cholangiocarcinoma, biliary cystadenocarcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma also presented unique cholangioscopic characteristics.


CONCLUSIONS
Bile duct tumors exhibit characteristic cholangioscopic findings and cholangioscopy seems to be useful for differential diagnosis.
Seo
D W
DW
Department of Internal Medicine, Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
S K
SK
Yoo
K S
KS
Kang
G H
GH
Kim
M H
MH
Suh
D J
DJ
Min
Y I
YI
D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D006801:Humans