Cholangiocarcinoma: Endoscopic therapies

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a difficult-to-treat biliary malignancy with significant morbidity and mortality due to its typically late symptomatic presentation. Though curative surgical options do exist, most patients with perihilar CCA are deemed unresectable at the time of diagnosis. Furthermore, the efficacy of chemoradiation for tumor control is limited. However, advances in endoscopic technology and techniques have enabled improved symptom palliation via internal biliary decompression, which is associated with improved quality of life.
Source: Techniques in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Source Type: research