Precise mapping of hilar cholangiocarcinoma with a skip lesion by SpyGlass cholangioscopy: A case report

BACKGROUND

Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) is a very aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis. As surgery is the only curative therapy, preoperative evaluation of the tumor extent is essential for surgical planning. Although high-quality image modalities such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging have been used extensively in preoperative evaluation, the accuracy is low. To obtain precise localization of tumor spread arising from the hilar region preoperatively, the development of an acceptable imaging modality is still an unmet need.

CASE SUMMARY

A 52-year-old female presented to our emergency department with jaundice, abdominal pain, and fever. Initially, she was treated for cholangitis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with the cholangiogram showed long segment filling defect in the common hepatic duct with dilatation of bilateral intrahepatic ducts. Transpapillary biopsy was performed, and the pathology suggested intraductal papillary neoplasm with high-grade dysplasia. After treatment of cholangitis, contrasted-enhanced computed tomography revealed a hilar lesion with undetermined Bismuth-Corlette classification. SpyGlass cholangioscopy showed that the lesion involved the confluence of the common hepatic duct with one skip lesion in the posterior branch of the right intrahepatic duct, which was not detected by previous image modalities. The surgical plan was modified from extended left hepatectomy to extended right hepatectomy. The final diagnosis was hilar CC, pT2aN0M0. The patient has remained disease-free for more than 3 years.

CONCLUSION

SpyGlass cholangioscopy may have a role in precision localization of hilar CC to provide surgeons with more information before the operation.

Clinical utility of EUS before cholangioscopy in the evaluation of difficult biliary strictures

BACKGROUND

Biliary tract malignancies can be assessed with either EUS or SpyGlass cholangioscopy (SGC).

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of EUS and guided biopsy before considering SGC in patients who had biliary strictures with negative ductal brushing.

DESIGN

Prospective, observational study.

SETTING

Tertiary level referral hospital.

PATIENTS

Forty consecutive patients with biliary strictures.

INTERVENTION

EUS evaluation and biopsy, where possible, were performed in all patients. If EUS examination failed to provide a definitive diagnosis, SGC and ductal biopsy was performed. Results were compared with surgical specimens or positive histocytology.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Tissue diagnosis, technical success, adverse events, and clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

On EUS, abnormalities responsible for the biliary strictures were identified in 39 patients (98%), with FNA achievable in 30 patients (75%). EUS-FNA provided positive histocytology in 23 patients (58%). SGC-guided biopsy was performed to evaluate nondiagnostic EUS-FNA (17 patients) and to clarify autoimmune pancreatitis on FNA (2 patients). The procedure was successful in 18 patients (95%) and provided tissue diagnosis in 16 patients (88%), with 2 false-negative results from extrinsic pathologies. When EUS was used before the SGC approach, the need for SGC was avoided in 24 patients (60%), cholangitis was minimized in 2.5%, and a cost saving of U.S.$110,000 was realized. Tissue diagnosis was achieved in 38 patients (94%) with this approach.

LIMITATIONS

Relatively small sample size.

CONCLUSIONS

EUS evaluation in patients with difficult biliary stricture prevents the need, cost, and adverse events of SGC in 60% of patients. Together, EUS followed by the SGC approach provides correct clinical diagnosis in 94% of patients with minimal adverse events.