Ultrasound diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma at the confluence of the hepatic ducts (Klatskin tumours).

The findings on ultrasound of 31 consecutive patients with pathologically proven Klatskin tumours are reviewed. In all patients, ultrasound disclosed dilated intrahepatic bile radicles and normal common bile ducts. A well defined, rounded, solid tumour mass was detected in 11 (35%) patients. Compared with the findings at surgery or autopsy, ultrasound disclosed eight of 12 tumours presenting as extraductal masses. In 16 patients with tumour growth predominantly along the bile ducts, ultrasound disclosed poorly demarcated echogenic tissue high in the hepatic hilum in four cases. In only two patients was it possible to detect tumour spread. Ultrasound-guided, fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed in seven patients revealing malignant cells in five cases and fine-needle tissue biopsy was performed in two cases revealing malignant tissue. The presence of intrahepatic dilated bile radicles with normal-sized common bile ducts should raise the possibility of a high bile duct carcinoma. If a tumour lesion is detected we suggest the use of ultrasound-guided, fine-needle biopsy.