[Hemobilia of neoplastic origin]

Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2010 Nov;29(173):328-30.
[Article in Polish]

Abstract

Haemobilia is a rare and difficult to diagnose cause of gastrointestinal tract bleeding. Actually the most frequent causes of haemobilia are iatrogenic traumas, due to development of different diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed endoscopically or laparoscopically. On the other hand cancer disease is the rarest reason of haemobilia. Diagnosing and treatment of cancer disease resulting in haemobilia are still big challenge for up to date medicine. Typical symptoms can be observed only in 30% of patients. From among all diagnostic procedures angiography of branches of the coeliac trunk seems to be the most important due to it's potentially therapeutic value in case of performing TAE. Actually treatment of haemobilia depends on patient's general condition, tumor localization and size, and intensity of bleeding. TAE should be considered in all cases of haemobilia. Surgery should be performed in cases of haemobilia caused by small, resectable neoplastic tumors. Advanced cancer disease resulting in haemobilia is the indication for TAE and other endoscopic or surgical procedures stopping bleeding and opening the bile duct passage.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Hemobilia / etiology*
  • Hemobilia / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / complications*
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Neoplasms / therapy