What is a Klatskin tumor?

Listen to pronunciation. (KLAT-skin TOO-mer) Cancer that develops in cells that line the bile ducts in the liver, where the right and left ducts meet. It is a type of cholangiocarcinoma.

What does Klatskin tumor cause?

The median survival of patients with non-resectable Klatskin tumors after palliative drainage is two to eight months. Complications include recurring bacterial cholangitis and/or liver failure (cirrhosis).

How is Klatskin tumor treated?

Unresectable Klatskin tumors are treated with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Gemcitabine combined with cisplatin therapy has been recognized as a standard treatment for unresectable biliary tract cancers including Klatskin tumors.

Is Klatskin tumor benign?

Up to 15% of patients resected for Klatskin tumours reveal benign proximal biliary obstruction on final histology [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]. Currently, complete surgical resection represents the only curative treatment of Klatskin tumours.

What causes obstructive jaundice?

Obstructive jaundice may be due to a number of causes, all of which narrow or block the bile ducts in some way: Gallstones. Pancreatic cancer, when it occurs near the tube connecting the pancreas to the intestines. Swelling of lymph glands near the bile duct.

Can you survive klatskin tumor?

Is klatskin tumor malignant?

CCA is a highly malignant neoplasm that arises from the bile duct epithelia. Sixty percent of cases are Klatskin tumors that occur in the perihilar region at the confluence of the right and left hepatic ducts. PSC is the most common risk factor for the development of CCA.

Can bile duct tumors be benign?

A bile duct tumor is an abnormal growth that may be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Most gallbladder tumors are benign, but malignant tumors may be indicative of cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer).

Is cholangiocarcinoma benign or malignant?

A tumor can be benign or cancerous. A benign tumor can grow but will not spread. A cancerous tumor is malignant, meaning it can grow and spread to other parts of the body. Bile duct cancer is also called cholangiocarcinoma.

What kind of cancer is the Klatskin tumor?

Klatskin tumors are are a type of cholangiocarcinoma that begins in an area called the hilum, where the left and right bile ducts join and leave the liver. It is the most common type of cholangiocarcinoma, accounting for more than half of all cases.

Can a liver transplant remove a Klatskin tumor?

Liver Transplant. Often Klatskin tumors affect both lobes of the liver, the blood vessels supplying the liver, or both the right and left hepatic ducts making curative resection almost impossible.

What causes a Klatskin tumor in the bile duct?

While there is no official known cause for Klatskin tumors in the bile duct, there are some risk factors that have been associated with a small percentage of those diagnosed because they are known to cause biliary inflammation and may be related to Klatskin tumor formation. Primary sclerosing cholangitis. Secondary sclerosing cholangitis.

How often does a Klatskin tumor need to be replaced?

This is typically done by inserting wall stents into the biliary system to allow for proper drainage of bile during the digestive process. Unfortunately, the stents are prone to obstructions and must be replaced approximately every three months to provide proper relief. In the end, Klatskin cancer is a disease that must be taken seriously.