Tumors of the Liver and Biliary Tract

This review discusses several different types of tumors that affect the liver, biliary tree, and gallbladder. Primary and secondary liver cancers are discussed, including hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal metastases, neuroendocrine metastases, and noncolorectal, nonneuroendocrine metastases. Clinical evaluation, investigative studies, tumor staging, and treatment options are presented for each. Benign or premalignant hepatic lesions are also discussed, including the appropriate workup and surgical options for hemangioma, hepatic adenoma, focal nodular hyperplasia, and nonparasitic cystic tumors. Cancers of the biliary tract (cholangiocarcinomas) are subdivided into intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas. The latter are subdivided into hilar and distal cholangiocarcinoma; their clinical evaluation, investigative studies, staging, and management are discussed. The clinical evaluation, investigative studies, testing, imaging, staging, and management are presented for gallbladder cancer, including incidentally discovered gallbladder cancer and gallbladder polyps. Figures include the anatomic divisions of the liver and Brisbane terminology