Juniper Publishers| A New Clinical Classification of Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma (Klatskin Tumor)
Journal of Surgery - JuniperPublishers Introduction Altemeir first described hepatic hilar cholangiocarcinoma in 1957 [1]. In 1965, a series of 13 cases of hepatic hilar cholangiocarcinoma was reported by Klatskin [2]. This tumor makes up about 60% of all cholangiocarcinoma. Anatomically, this tumor situates at special site, i.e. hilar biliary bifurcation within a limited small space, close to vessels (portal vein, hepatic artery) and liver (especially caudate lobe). Biologically, it usually grows slowly and locally, with submucosal infiltration (up to 1.6 cm from gross margin of the tumor), neurovascular infiltration and lymphnode metastasis, but less often with distance metastasis. Therapeutically, its resection usually is difficult, especially to obtain R0 resection, while it does not respond well with chemo-and/or radiational therapy. Local recurrence is high (>50%), leading treatment failure and poor outcome [3]. When humans ingest the eggs of the tapeworm, embryo...