Authors:

Yigang Luo

Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, University of Saskatchewan, Ellis Hall, Rm161, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon SK S7N 0W8, Canada

Introduction:

Hepatic hilar cholangiocarcinoma was initially reported by Altemeir in 1957 [1]. Klatskin [2] reported a series of 13 cases of hepatic hilar cholangiocarcinoma in 1965. About 60% of cholangiocarcinomas are composed of this tumor. Anatomically speaking, this tumor is located at a unique location, namely the hilar biliary bifurcation within a constrained tiny space. the liver (particularly the caudate lobe) and veins (portal vein, hepatic artery). Biology-wise, it often grows slowly and locally, with lymph node metastases, submucosal infiltration (up to 1.6 cm from the tumor's gross margin), and neurovascular infiltration; distant metastasis occurs less frequently.
In terms of treatment, it is typically difficult to resect, particularly when attempting a R0 resection, and it does not react well to chemotherapy or radiation therapy. The high rate of local recurrence (>50%) causes therapy failure and unfavorable results.

Citation:

Yigang Luo. The Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma (Klatskin Tumor). World Journal of Clinical Surgery 2023.