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Klatskin tumor is a rare type of bile duct cancer that affects the upper region where the left and right bile ducts meet. Prognosis depends on tumor size, involvement of bile ducts, and patient’s physical condition. Resection is the best treatment, but chemotherapy and radiation may be considered if surgery is not an option. Patients should obtain information about the tumor and discuss treatment options with an experienced doctor.
A Klatskin tumor is a tumor that forms in the upper region of the bile duct, where the left and right bile ducts meet. This type of tumor is rare. The prognosis for the patient depends on the size of the tumor at the time of diagnosis, whether the left and right bile ducts are also involved, and the patient’s general physical condition. Healthy patients with small, minimally involved tumors may recover, while others may have a worse prognosis. An experienced doctor can assess the situation and discuss the prognosis with the patient, including the prognosis with different treatment options.
This cancer is a type of cholangiocarcinoma or bile duct cancer. The causes of bile duct tumors are not known, although people with cystic liver disease, Crohn’s disease, and other gastrointestinal diseases appear to be at increased risk of developing cholangiocarcinomas such as Klatskin tumors. The tumor is named after the doctor who first described it in 1965.
Patients with Klatskin tumors usually develop jaundice due to blockage in the bile duct. They also have symptoms such as weight loss, abdominal pain, dark urine, and clay-colored stools. Klatskin’s tumor may be visible on medical imaging studies of the liver and bile duct. A liver biopsy will show malignant cells.
The best treatment for a Klatskin tumor is resection, in which the tumor is removed, with clean margins to remove any malignant cells that may be associated with the Klatskin tumor. This surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Adjuvant therapy such as chemotherapy and radiation are usually not recommended with surgery. If surgery is not an option due to the level of tumor involvement, chemotherapy and radiation may be considered, although such tumors often do not respond well to nonsurgical treatment.
When a patient is diagnosed with Klatskin’s tumor, it can be helpful to obtain as much information about the tumor as possible before making treatment decisions. A doctor should be able to discuss the location of the tumor, the risks and benefits of surgery, and whether or not the candidate may be a good candidate for other treatment options. Because such tumors are rare, not much research is done on them, but cancer researchers can and do work with cholangiocarcinomas, and options such as drug trials may be available to patients who are willing and interested. Patients should note that people with comorbidities may not be accepted into drug trials.
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