Background: Cancer of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary tracts is characterized by a low incidence and a very heterogeneous appearance.
Objective: Summary and evaluation of current surgical strategies in the treatment of malignant biliary tract diseases.
Material and methods: An analysis of English language publications as well as European and American guidelines and recommendations for the surgical treatment of malignant diseases of the biliary tract was carried out. The results and recommendations were summarized and evaluated on the basis of experiences in this center.
Results: Surgery is considered to be the only curative treatment option; however, prospective randomized studies and existing guidelines are based on limited evidence. Surgical strategies and the extent of resection differ between carcinomas of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts depending on localization, size and number of lesions as well as their proximity to surrounding structures.
Conclusion: Sufficient experience in the treatment of these rare tumors is of special importance for the implementation of individualized overall concepts and for the sufficient performance of the mostly complex resections.
Keywords: Biliary tract cancer; Cholangiocarcinoma; Liver surgery; Liver transplantation; Pancreatic surgery.