Cholangiocarcinoma of the liver:Case report with seven-year survival, with review of the literature on primary liver tumors and hepatic resections

A survey of the English literature concerning primary tumors of the liver has failed to discover a 5-year survivor with cholangiocarcinoma. A 67-year-old Caucasian housewife is presented as a 7-year cure following left lateral hepatic lobectomy. The tumor was a fortuitous finding during elective cholecystectomy and resection was accomplished at that time. The subject of hepatocarcinoma and cholangicarcinoma is reviewed, along with the history and techniques of hepatic resection. Apparently, cholangiocarcinoma has a hopeless prognosis unless found at a very early stage, as in the case presented.