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Della Corte et al. Hepatoma Res 2022;8:5 Hepatoma Research
DOI: 10.20517/2394-5079.2021.103

Review Open Access

Radiological imaging and non-surgical local

treatments for cholangiocarcinoma

1,2
1
1
Angelo Della Corte , Ettore Di Gaeta , Stephanie Steidler , Francesco De Cobelli 1,2,3
1
Department of Radiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy.
2
Vita-Salute University, 20132 Milan, Italy.
3
Experimental Imaging Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy.
Correspondence to: Francesco De Cobelli, Department of Radiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 60,
Milan 20132, Italy. E-mail: decobelli.francesco@hsr.it
How to cite this article: Della Corte A, Di Gaeta E, Steidler S, De Cobelli F. Radiological imaging and non-surgical local
treatments for cholangiocarcinoma. Hepatoma Res 2022;8:5. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-5079.2021.103
Received: 2 Aug 2021 First Decision: 16 Nov 2021 Revised: 30 Nov 2021 Accepted: 7 Dec 2021 Published: 13 Jan 2022

Academic Editors: Guang-Wen Cao, Gen-Sheng Feng Copy Editor: Xi-Jun Chen Production Editor: Xi-Jun Chen

Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) is a malignancy with a very heterogeneous spectrum of morphopathological and
prognostic characteristics. Diagnostic imaging is fundamental for early detection, preoperative staging, and
resectability assessment, as well as early recognition of prognostic factors. Radical surgical treatment is limited by
disease stage and technical feasibility. Interventional radiology has acquired a critical function in addressing
disease control and survival improvement through loco-regional therapies, specifically in the setting of intrahepatic
CC. In this review, we will describe the current state of art of diagnostic imaging, focusing on intrahepatic CC and
proximal extrahepatic CC, and delineate the available loco-regional therapies strategies for unresectable
intrahepatic CC.
Keywords: Cholangiocarcinoma, diagnostic imaging, loco-regional therapies, ablation, embolization

INTRODUCTION
Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) represents the most frequent malignant tumor of the biliary tract, accounting for
10% to 20% of all primary liver tumors . These malignancies can be classified according to their
[1]
morphological characteristics, anatomical site of origin, or based on histological classification. Even though
histologically the vast majority are adenocarcinomas, with a high proportion of fibrous stroma, CCs
represent a very diverse disease spectrum.

© The Author(s) 2022. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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