title: Peripheral cholangiocarcinoma with thoracic spine metastasis: a successful surgically treated case.
abstract: In this study we present a rare case of cholangiocarcinoma with metastasis to the thoracic spine. A 63-year-old female with peripheral cholangiocarcinoma associated with hepatolithiasis presented low back pain as a result of a thoracic spine (T12) compression fracture. Spine surgery and pathological examination revealed a metastatic mucinous adenocarcinoma of unknown origin. Two weeks after the spine surgery, a nontender palpable abdominal mass was found at the epigastric area. Abdominal sonography (US), abdominal computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticogram (MRCP) revealed a hepatic tumor, hepatolithiasis, and gallbladder empyema. The patient underwent hepatic resection, cholecystectomy, and choledocholithotomy with T-tube stent. Pathological examination with immunohistochemical stain revealed hepatolithiasis concurrent with mucinous cholangiocarcinoma. Postoperative course was uneventful and no recurrence was noted during a 1-year follow-up period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. ycn@adm.cgmh.org.tw
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Tseng
mesh_terms: D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D001662:Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000150:complications; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae