IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis mimicking cholangiocarcinoma

National guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma

A consensus meeting of national experts from all major national hepatobiliary centres in the country was held on May 26, 2023, at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute & Research Centre (PKLI & RC) after initial consultations with the experts. The Pakistan Society for the Study of Liver Diseases (PSSLD) and PKLI & RC jointly organised this meeting. This effort was based on a comprehensive literature review to establish national practice guidelines for hilar cholangiocarcinoma (hCCA). The consensus was that hCCA is a complex disease and requires a multidisciplinary team approach to best manage these patients. This coordinated effort can minimise delays and give patients a chance for curative treatment and effective palliation. The diagnostic and staging workup includes high-quality computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. Brush cytology or biopsy utilizing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is a mainstay for diagnosis. However, histopathologic confirmation is not always required before resection. Endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration of regional lymph nodes and positron emission tomography scan are valuable adjuncts for staging. The only curative treatment is the surgical resection of the biliary tree based on the Bismuth-Corlette classification. Selected patients with unresectable hCCA can be considered for liver transplantation. Adjuvant chemotherapy should be offered to patients with a high risk of recurrence. The use of preoperative biliary drainage and the need for portal vein embolisation should be based on local multidisciplinary discussions. Patients with acute cholangitis can be drained with endoscopic or percutaneous biliary drainage. Palliative chemotherapy with cisplatin and gemcitabine has shown improved survival in patients with irresectable and recurrent hCCA.

Isolated IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis with normal serum IgG4 levels-A case report

The isolated IgG4-SC that absent from AIP is quite rare and difficult to diagnose. We presented a case of isolated IgG4-SC with the normal serum IgG4 which was hard to differentiate with cholangiocarcinoma. Under such circumstances, liver pathology has a pivotal role in the diagnosis.

Usefulness of peroral cholangioscopy in the differential diagnosis of IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a single-center retrospective study

BACKGROUND

In the diagnosis of IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC), differentiation from extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) is extremely important but is still a clinical challenge. This study aimed to elucidate the usefulness of peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) for the differential diagnosis between IgG4-SC and ECC.

METHODS

POCS findings for bile duct stricture were retrospectively evaluated in 17 patients with IgG4-SC diagnosed at the Hiroshima University Hospital and 53 patients with surgically resected infiltrating ECC. Mucosal surface, dilated vessels (tortuosity, caliber alteration, and disruption), and easily bleeding were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

The stricture sites of IgG4-SC evaluated by POCS were 10 extrapancreatic bile ducts and 9 intrapancreatic bile ducts. In patients with IgG4-SC, smooth mucosal surface was observed in 89% (17/19), dilated vessels in 58% (11/19) [tortuosity 82% (9/11), caliber alteration 18% (2/11), and disruption 9% (1/11)], and easily bleeding in 0%. Irregular mucosal surface and easily bleeding were observed significantly more frequently in ECC (both P <  0.001). The frequency of caliber alteration and disruption of dilated vessels was significantly less in IgG4-SC (P <  0.001 and 0.005, respectively). The sensitivity and specificity of POCS in the diagnosis of ECC were 96 and 89%, respectively. Dilated vessels in IgG4-SC were observed significantly more frequently in the extrapancreatic bile duct, especially the hilar bile duct (P = 0.006). Concerning image evaluation, the interobserver agreement was κ = 0.719, and the intraobserver agreement was κ = 0.768 and 0.754.

CONCLUSIONS

Characteristic POCS findings of the stricture sites in IgG4-SC were smooth mucosal surface, dilated vessels without caliber alteration and disruption, and lack of easily bleeding. These POCS findings are extremely useful for distinguishing between IgG4-SC and ECC.

IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis mimicking hilar cholangiocarcinoma (Klatskin tumor): a case report of a challenging disease and review of the literature

Background

Even though IgG4-related disease has gained increased attention worldwide, the diagnosis remains challenging. IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC) is not well described in the western hemisphere and may mimic cholangiocarcinoma (CC), especially when occurring without other symptoms such as, e.g. concurrent pancreatitis or retroperitoneal fibrosis. We present a case to add further information to the diagnosis and treatment of this challenging disease.

Case report

A 60-year-old male patient presented with painless jaundice. Prior medical history showed diabetes mellitus type I, high blood pressure, and deep vein thrombosis. Diagnostic investigations were strongly suspicious of a Klatskin tumor, although biopsies were inconclusive. The tumor marker Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) was elevated. Prior to the recommended surgery, the patient had two second opinions in two different university hospitals, both arguing for surgery as well. The patient received hilar resection with right hemihepatectomy. During the postoperative course, some major complications occurred, i.e. recurrent pleural effusion, abscess in the liver resection area, sepsis, ileus, and restricted liver metabolism. Treatment with prednisolone did not show any improvement. Approximately 3 months after surgery, the patient died in consequence of acute respiratory failure. Histology showed no signs of CC, but IgG4-SC could be diagnosed.

Conclusion

In the case of preoperative signs of CC, differential diagnosis of IgG4-SC needs to be considered, in particular, in cases with missing histologic proof of malignant disease.

Isolated IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis misdiagnosed as malignancy in an area with endemic cholangiocarcinoma: a case report

Background

The most common cause of perihilar obstruction is cholangiocarcinoma, especially in Thailand. Benign perihilar stricture represents less than 20% of cases. IgG4-related disease and IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis, however, have been receiving increased recognition. Isolated IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis is less common. The preoperative diagnosis of IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis without pancreatic involvement is very difficult because the clinical presentation and preoperative evaluation are extremely difficult to distinguish from perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 56-year-old man who presented with obstructive jaundice with preoperative imaging showing proximal common bile duct obstruction. He underwent right lobe liver hepatectomy with extrahepatic bile duct resection and regional lymph node dissection due to high suspicion of malignancy. The pathological report showed severe acute and chronic inflammation of the bile duct with morphology and immunohistochemistry suggestive of IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis.

Conclusions

IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis with perihilar obstruction should be considered even in areas where cholangiocarcinoma is endemic.