*Core reference pages for biliary tract cancers, benign biliary disease, biliary obstruction, and operative biliary strategy.*
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### Overview
Biliary disease is best approached by **anatomic location**, **benign vs malignant etiology**, and **operative implications**.
For HPB practice, the key questions are:
- Is this benign, malignant, or indeterminate?
- Where is the dominant biliary pathology?
- Is biliary drainage needed?
- Is an oncologic resection possible?
- Is biliary reconstruction required?
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### Cholangiocarcinoma
Cholangiocarcinoma is most useful clinically when divided by anatomic location.
| Disease | Location | Typical operation |
|---|---|---|
| [[Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma]] | Peripheral intrahepatic bile ducts | Hepatectomy + portal lymphadenectomy |
| [[Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma]] | Hepatic duct confluence | Major hepatectomy + caudate + bile duct resection |
| [[Distal cholangiocarcinoma]] | Distal extrahepatic bile duct | Pancreaticoduodenectomy |
Key pages:
- [[Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma]]
- [[Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma]]
- [[Distal cholangiocarcinoma]]
- [[Blumgart classification]]
- [[Biliary tract cancer resectability]]
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### Gallbladder cancer
Gallbladder cancer ranges from incidental early-stage disease to locally advanced cancer requiring major HPB resection.
| Scenario | Typical question |
|---|---|
| Incidental gallbladder cancer | Is completion radical cholecystectomy needed? |
| Suspected primary gallbladder cancer | Is upfront oncologic resection appropriate? |
| Locally advanced disease | Is there liver, bile duct, vascular, nodal, or peritoneal involvement? |
| Gallbladder polyp | Is cholecystectomy indicated? |
Key pages:
- [[Gallbladder cancer]]
- [[Incidental gallbladder cancer]]
- [[Radical cholecystectomy]]
- [[Gallbladder polyp]]
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### Ampullary cancer
Ampullary cancer sits at the intersection of biliary, pancreatic, duodenal, and endoscopic disease.
Key questions:
- Is this ampullary, distal bile duct, pancreatic, or duodenal cancer?
- Is the lesion endoscopically resectable or surgically managed?
- Is pancreaticoduodenectomy indicated?
- Is histology intestinal or pancreatobiliary subtype?
Key pages:
- [[Ampullary cancer]]
- [[Pancreaticoduodenectomy]]
- [[Distal cholangiocarcinoma]]
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### Benign biliary disease
Benign biliary disease is common, but HPB relevance usually comes from complexity, recurrence, failed endoscopy, altered anatomy, or concern for malignancy.
Key pages:
- [[Choledocholithiasis]]
- [[Mirizzi syndrome]]
- [[Biliary stricture]]
- [[Primary sclerosing cholangitis]]
- [[IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis]]
- [[Choledochal cyst]]
- [[Recurrent pyogenic cholangitis]]
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### Biliary stricture
A biliary stricture should be approached as malignant until proven otherwise when unexplained, progressive, proximal, or associated with a mass, vascular involvement, weight loss, or elevated CA 19-9.
Common categories:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Malignant | Cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer, gallbladder cancer, metastatic nodes |
| Iatrogenic | Post-cholecystectomy, post-transplant, post-hepatectomy |
| Inflammatory | PSC, IgG4 disease, chronic pancreatitis |
| Ischemic | Hepatic artery injury, transplant-related |
| Stone-related | Mirizzi syndrome, chronic choledocholithiasis |
Key pages:
- [[Biliary stricture]]
- [[Indeterminate biliary stricture]]
- [[Primary sclerosing cholangitis]]
- [[IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis]]
- [[Cholangiocarcinoma]]
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### Bile duct injury
The first repair is often the best chance for durable biliary reconstruction.
Core principles:
- Control sepsis.
- Drain bile collections.
- Define anatomy.
- Avoid repeated blind attempts at repair.
- Refer early for complex injury.
- Reconstruct with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy when appropriate.
Key pages:
- [[Bile duct injury]]
- [[Postoperative bile leak]]
- [[Biliary reconstruction]]
- [[Hepaticojejunostomy]]
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### Biliary drainage
Biliary drainage is selective, not automatic.
Common indications include:
- Cholangitis
- Severe symptomatic jaundice
- Delay to definitive therapy
- Need for neoadjuvant therapy
- Planned major hepatectomy with jaundiced future liver remnant
- Segmental cholangitis or undrained functional liver
Key pages:
- [[Biliary drainage]]
- [[ERCP]]
- [[PTBD]]
- [[Preoperative biliary drainage]]
- [[Biliary drainage before hepatectomy]]
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### Operative biliary strategy
Key operative reference pages:
- [[Biliary reconstruction]]
- [[Hepaticojejunostomy]]
- [[Bile leak assessment]]
- [[Intraoperative cholangiogram]]
- [[Hilar plate lowering]]
- [[Caudate lobectomy]]
- [[Portal lymphadenectomy]]
- [[Vascular resection in hilar cholangiocarcinoma]]
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### Systemic therapy and trials
Core biliary tract cancer treatment pages:
- [[Biliary tract cancer systemic therapy]]
- [[Biliary tract cancer molecular profiling]]
- [[Adjuvant therapy for biliary tract cancer]]
Landmark trials:
- [[BILCAP]]
- [[SWOG 0809]]
- [[ABC-02]]
- [[TOPAZ-1]]
- [[KEYNOTE-966]]
- [[SWOG 1815]]
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### Imaging and staging
Imaging strategy depends on disease location and planned operation.
Key pages
- [[CT for HPB surgery]]
- [[MRI for HPB surgery]]
- [[MRCP]]
- [[Diagnostic laparoscopy]]
- [[Biliary tract cancer resectability]]
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### Quick links
Malignant:
- [[Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma]]
- [[Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma]]
- [[Distal cholangiocarcinoma]]
- [[Gallbladder cancer]]
- [[Ampullary cancer]]
Benign / inflammatory:
- [[Choledocholithiasis]]
- [[Mirizzi syndrome]]
- [[Biliary stricture]]
- [[Primary sclerosing cholangitis]]
- [[IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis]]
- [[Choledochal cyst]]
- [[Bile duct injury]]
Operative:
- [[Biliary reconstruction]]
- [[Hepaticojejunostomy]]
- [[Bile leak assessment]]
- [[Biliary drainage]]
- [[Caudate lobectomy]]
- [[Portal lymphadenectomy]]
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