A Klatskin tumor is a cholangiocarcinoma (cancer of the biliary tree) occurring at the confluence of the right and left intrahepatic bile ducts. Cholangiocarcinoma is an adenocarcinoma of the biliary duct system. ... When normal cells are damaged or old they undergo apoptosis; cancer cells, however, avoid apoptosis. ... A bile duct is any of a number of long tube-like structures that carry bile. ... A confluence is the merger or meeting of two or more objects (or subjects) that seem to inseparably bind their respective forces or attributes into a point of junction. ... A bile duct is any of a number of long tube-like structures that carry bile. ...
PMID 14256720 -- Adenocarcinoma of the hepatic duct at its bifurcation within the porta hepatis. An unusual tumor with distinctive clinical and pathological features. (KLATSKIN G., Am J Med. 1965 Feb;38:241-56.)
ERCP demonstration of Klatskintumors is often incomplete due to incomplete filling of bile ducts peripheral to the stenosis.
Although not pathognomonic, the presence of bile duct dilatation within the tumor and retraction of the liver capsule adjacent to the tumor are suggestive of the diagnosis.
In conclusion, detection and accurate staging of Klatskintumor is improved by multi-phasic helical CT scanning and MR imaging.
Feeds |
Contact