[Role of computerized tomography in the evaluation of extraductal extension of hilar cholangiocarcinoma].

This study was aimed at assessing the role of CT in the investigation of extraductal spread of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. October 1990 to November 1993, twenty-one patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma were examined. The diagnosis was made on the basis of the following CT findings: intrahepatic bile ducts dilatation, nonunion of the right and the left bile ducts, normal size of extrahepatic bile ducts and the tumor depicted "per se". As for extraductal spread, we considered parenchymal invasion, involvement of vascular structures and parenchymal, lymph node and peritoneal metastases. In all cases CT demonstrated intrahepatic bile duct dilatation and nonunion at the confluence. CT demonstrated a hypodense mass in 10/21 cases and an isodense mass in 11/21 cases. Portal vein involvement was detected in 7/10 cases and hepatic artery involvement was correctly suspected in 1/8 cases; CT demonstrated parenchymal and lymph node metastases in 1/6 and 2/7 cases. In conclusion, CT proved to be a valuable technique, like PTC and US, to assess tumor resectability.