Ruolo della stadiazione ecografica nel trattamento chirurgico del colangiocarcinoma ilare

This study was aimed at assessing the role of sonographic staging in the surgical treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Between January 1990 and December 1994 30 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma were examined. The diagnosis was made on the basis of the following sonographic findings: intrahepatic bile ducts dilatation, nonunion of the right and left bile ducts, normal size of the extrahepatic bile ducts and the tumor depicted 'per se'. Local sonographic staging was done according to surgical staging proposed by Gazzaniga. The neoplasms were correctly classified at sonographic staging in 26/30 cases evaluating portal vein and hepatic artery involvement. In conclusion sonography, like transhepatic cholangiography, proved a valuable technique to assess tumor resecability and surgical planning.