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Preoperative Imaging of Liver Cancers: Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

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Venous Embolization of the Liver

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Abstract

Patients with suspected hilar cholagiocarcinoma frequently present with obstructive jaundice. The conventional algorithm for imaging studies of those patients usually starts with an ultrasonography of the abdomen to exclude more common and benign conditions, such as choledocholithiasis, gallstones, cholecystitis, and Mirizzi syndrome.2,29,30 An MR cholangiography and CT of the abdomen has been advocated and increasingly used in clinical practices to fully evaluate the causes of jaundice. Once the benign conditions are excluded, or in patients with a highly suspicious malignant cause of obstructive jaundice such as a hilar cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma, or gallbladder carcinoma, a more tailored examination will be needed to evaluate the cause, the extent, and the staging of the malignant disease. The primary signs of hilar cholangiocarcinoma on CT or MR imaging are the presence of soft tissue mass and the focal thickening of the ductal wall with periductal infiltration associated with constriction of the lumen, and the intraluminal nodule in the dilated duct.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler St, Unit 1473, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Chusilp Charnsangavej

  2. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Harmeet Kaur M.D. & Evelyne M. Loyer M.D.

Authors
  1. Harmeet Kaur M.D.
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  2. Evelyne M. Loyer M.D.
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  3. Chusilp Charnsangavej
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Correspondence to Chusilp Charnsangavej .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, 10032, New York, USA

    David C. Madoff

  2. University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan

    Masatoshi Makuuchi

  3. School of Medicine, Dept. Surgery I, Nagoya University, Tsurumai-cho 65, Nagoya, Aichi-ken, 466-8550, Japan

    Masato Nagino

  4. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Dept. Surgical Oncology, University of Texas, Holcombe Blvd. 1515, Houston, 77030, Texas, USA

    Jean-Nicolas Vauthey

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Kaur, H., Loyer, E.M., Charnsangavej, C. (2011). Preoperative Imaging of Liver Cancers: Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma. In: Madoff, D., Makuuchi, M., Nagino, M., Vauthey, JN. (eds) Venous Embolization of the Liver. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-122-4_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-122-4_8

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