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Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
Etiological factors of cholangiocarcinoma include clonorchiasis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, polycystic disease, anabolic steroid use, and thorotrast administration.
The tumor is dense and whitish in color. It has a glandular structure and originates from the epithelium of the intrahepatic bile ducts. Tumor cells resemble bile duct epithelium; sometimes they form papillary structures. Bile secretion is absent. Unlike hepatocellular carcinoma, capillaries are almost not formed. Histologically, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cannot be distinguished from adenocarcinoma metastases.
Keratin serves as a marker of biliary epithelium and is found in 90% of cases of cholangiocarcinoma.
The tumor is more common in older people. Jaundice dominates the clinical picture, which resembles that of other malignant liver tumors. No increase in serum alpha-fetoprotein levels is observed.
CT reveals a low-absorption mass, sometimes with calcification foci. The tumor is usually poorly vascularized. Angiograms and magnetic resonance imaging show dense "envelopment" of the tumor by vessels.
The treatment results are unsatisfactory. The tumor does not respond to chemotherapy.
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