Review
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World J Hepatol. Aug 27, 2014; 6(8): 559-569
Published online Aug 27, 2014. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v6.i8.559
Palliation: Hilar cholangiocarcinoma
Mahesh Kr Goenka, Usha Goenka
Mahesh Kr Goenka, Institute of Gastro Sciences, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata 700054, India
Usha Goenka, Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata 700054, India
Author contributions: Goenka MK conceptualized, reviewed the literature and prepared the final draft; Goenka U reviewed the literature, revised the draft and prepared the final version for publication.
Correspondence to: Mahesh Kr Goenka, MD, DM, FACG, FASGE, Director, Institute of Gastro Sciences, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, 58 Canal Circular Road, Kolkata 700054, India. mkgkolkata@gmail.com
Telephone: +91-33-23203040 Fax: +91-33-23205218
Received: October 29, 2013
Revised: May 28, 2014
Accepted: June 14, 2014
Published online: August 27, 2014
Processing time: 303 Days and 15.6 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: The majority of patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma present in advanced stages and are candidates for palliation only. The techniques of palliation, primarily at endoscopy or by percutaneous techniques, are evolving as better stents become available. Alternate techniques, such as endosonography-guided procedures, are also becoming popular. Photodynamic therapy and radio-frequency ablation are also used to improve the results of biliary stents. This review article provides a consolidated picture of the present knowledge in this field based on recent data.