Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma: the Potentialities of Ultrasonic Diagnosis in Tumor Detection

Abstract

Objectives: to specify the main ultrasonic signs of hilar cholangiocarcinoma in order to enhance the efficiency of its diagnosis; to create a volume of ultrasonic examination techniques of patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Materials and methods. The analysis of the results of clinical-instrumental tests on 99 patients suffering from tumors or benign damages of proximal bile ducts has been carried out. The patients have been allocated to the following groups in accordance with the final diagnosis: group 1 - patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma (n = 38; 38,4%), group 2 - patients with primary hepatic and gallbladder tumors (n = 31; 31,3%), group 3 - patients with benign damages of proximal bile ducts (n = 30; 30,3%). All the patients have undergone complex clinical-instrumental tests. Results. The analysis of the frequency of the following echo-signs in the group of patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma as well as tumor affection and benign damages of the liver and gallbladder has been carried out: dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts, alterations of bile duct walls (the absence of differentiation or thickening), hyperechoic periductal tissues, tissue alterations of hepatoduodenal ligament, focal hepatic formations in the portal fissure region and dimensional changes of the gallbladder. Conclusion. A symptom complex typical of hilar cholangiocarcinoma has been singled out which helped to enhance the informative value of ultrasound techniques for tumor diagnosis with the susceptibility of 73%, specificity of 94% and accuracy of 87%. It also optimized the results of detaching the morphotype of tumor growth and the extension of the local disease in order to frame the appropriate therapeutic approach.