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REVIEW ARTICLE
V. VILGRAIN
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an adenocarcinoma that arises from the bile duct epithelium and is observed in the entire
biliary tree (intrahepatic, hilum, and extrahepatic distal). The staging of this tumor differs depending on location. The role
of imaging in the staging of hilar CCA is to assess the extent of ductal involvement by the tumor, hepatic artery, or portal
venous involvement, the functional status and volumetric assessment of the underlying liver, and the regional or distant
tumor extension. Complete assessment is done by combining magnetic resonance (MR) cholangiography and multidetector
computed tomography (CT). Multidetector CT, in particular, is accurate for resectability and the negative predictive value
(patients with disease classified as unresectable and in whom unresectability has been confirmed) is quite high: 85100%.
The role of imaging in the staging of intrahepatic CCA is to evaluate resectability based on the tumor itself, vascular
involvement, regional and distal extension, and volumetric assessment of the contralateral liver, and to determine the
prognostic factors. These factors are mainly: tumor size, the presence of satellite nodules, vascular involvement, and lymph
nodes. CT and MR imaging (MRI) are keys and their results are comparable. In distal extrahepatic CCA due to tumor
location, staging is focused mainly on the adjacent vessels (portal vein and hepatic artery), the hepatoduodenal ligament, the
proximal and distal biliary extent, and pancreatic invasion. CT and MRI are mandatory.
Correspondence: Valérie Vilgrain, Department of Radiology, Hôpital Beaujon, 100 bd du Général Leclerc 92110 Clichy, France. Tel: 33 1 40 87 53 58. Fax:
33 1 40 87 05 48. E-mail: valerie.vilgrain@bjn.aphp.fr
artery involvement, but recent studies have shown an . The accuracy of MRCP ranges from 81% to 96%
accuracy of 93% [1]. Table I indicates the respective with the exception of one study with 67% [814].
sensitivities, specificities, and accuracies of CT series . MRCP seems more accurate for types 1 and 2
using helical technology. Conversely, CT has limited BismuthCorlette classification than the others.
sensitivity of approximately 50% for N2 metastases . Underestimation of the extent of ductal involve-
[1]. CT is reliable in assessing the extent of ductal ment is much more common than overestima-
involvement by the tumor at the primary and second- tion.
ary confluence, but usually underestimates more . MRCP is better than ERCP, but for some teams
proximal extension. Indeed, CT cholangiography, PTC remains the best technique [15].
which includes the administration of biliary contrast . MRCP is accurate for planning treatment in 72%
material, improves this staging. to 83% [9,10].
Overall, CT has an accuracy of resectability of
between 60% and 87.5%, with the best results
PET
published in the past 5 years (Table II). Even more
important, the negative predictive value (patients with FDG-PET was initially evaluated for the diagnosis of
disease classified as unresectable and in whom un- CCA and even detection of this tumor in primary
resectability has been confirmed) is quite high: 85 sclerosing cholangitis. More recently, studies have
100% [1,57]. CT is less accurate than vascular focused on staging. Today, FDG-PET has been
invasion in detecting N2 metastases, small liver disappointing in the detection of regional lymph
metastases, and peritoneal carcinomatosis. node metastases, i.e. with sensitivities of just 12% to
38% [1618]. The sensitivity of FDG-PET compared
to CT is lower [17,18]. Detection of peritoneal
Magnetic resonance imaging magnetic resonance carcinomatosis is not good with numbers of false-
cholangiography positive and false-negative cases [16,19]. On the other
hand, FDG-PET appears the best technique in
Although the role of MRI in assessing vascular detecting distant metastases, especially when using
invasion has been emphasized (Table I), the main integrated positron emission and CT (PET/CT). Two
goal of MRI is in correctly predicting the extent of studies have reported that findings can result in a
ductal involvement. change of management in 17% to 30% of patients
Since the 1990s, approximately 10 original papers deemed resectable after standard work-up [18,19].
have been published on MRCP in hilar CCAs, but Although these results have to be confirmed by larger
these studies are difficult to compare because of series, PET may hold promise in the detection of
varying numbers of patients and methods of reference hidden metastases and can play an additional role in
(ERCP, PTC, or surgical exploration). the evaluation of resectability [20].
Briefly:
[4] Han JK, Choi BI, Kim TK, Kim SW, Han MC, Yeon KM.
[24], usually when they are larger than 1 or 2 cm in Hilar cholangiocarcinoma: thin-section spiral CT findings
diameter [25]; however, in Okabayashi’s article, with cholangiographic correlation. Radiographics 1997;17: / /
50% of cases and more often concerns the portal [7] Cha JH, Han JK, Kim TK. Preoperative evaluation of Klastkin
branch than the hepatic veins [25]. The presence of tumor: accuracy of spiral CT in determining vascular invasion
as a sign of unresectability. Abdom Imag 2000;25:5007.
segmental or lobar atrophy is strongly associated with / /
branches. Although these two examinations are com- [9] Lopera JE, Soto JA, Munera F. Malignant hilar and perihilar
parable, vascular involvement is considered more biliary obstruction: use of MR cholangiography to define the
extent of biliary ductal involvement and plan percutaneous
visible on CT [26].
interventions. Radiology 2001;220:906.
The overall accuracy of detecting metastastic
/ /
tion of the stomach and along the lesser gastric [11] Yeh TS, Jan YY, Tseng JH, et al. Malignant perihilar biliary
obstruction: magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatographic
curvature should be examined in addition to nodes
findings. Am J Gastroenterol 2000;95:43240.
in the hepatoduodenal ligament in intrahepatic
/ /
Staging of extrahepatic CCA is challenging because [14] Lee SS, Kim MH, Lee SK, et al. MR cholangiography versus
this tumor tends to spread outside the wall of the bile cholangioscopy for evaluation of longitudinal extension of
duct and attention has to be paid to the adjacent hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Gastrointest Endosc 2002;56:25 / /
images using MDCT may be useful tools [28]. [16] Kluge R, Schmidt F, Caca K, et al. Positron emission
Endoscopic sonography and, more recently, intraduc- tomography with [(18)F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose for diag-
tal ultrasonography using a higher frequency have nosis and staging of bile duct cancer. Hepatology 2001;33: / /
102935.
been reported in small series. [17] Kato T, Tsukamoto E, Kuge Y, et al. Clinical role of (18)F-
In conclusion, imaging is important in staging FDG PET for initial staging of patients with extrahepatic bile
CCAs. Indications of each modality are well estab- duct cancer. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imag 2002;29:104754. / /
lished for hilar CCA but less so for the other sites. [18] Petrowsky H, Wildbrett P, Husarik DB, et al. Impact of
integrated positron emission tomography and computed
tomography on staging and management of gallbladder cancer
and cholangiocarcinoma. J Hepatol 2006;45:4350. / /
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