Liver transplantation for cholangiocarcinoma: Past, present, and the future

Abstract

Management of hilar cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) remains a major challenge incorporating complex diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. The management has evolved over the decades in pursuit of optimal therapeutic outcome for this challenging pathology. The only curative therapeutic option for CCA is complete (R0) surgical resection with negative margins. Curative resection for hilar CCA (HCCA) remains a surgical challenge due to its high propensity for invasion into liver parenchyma, encasement of portal vessels, and metastasis to regional lymph nodes. Liver transplantation (LT) was proposed as an alternative therapeutic option, but the initial results were extremely disappointing due to high rate of recurrence. The management has evolved over decades with introduction of neoadjuvant treatment options followed by LT resulting in optimal outcomes for an otherwise lethal disease. The current review outlines the changing trends in the management of HCCA over the years.