Editorial
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Apr 16, 2024; 12(11): 1881-1884
Published online Apr 16, 2024. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i11.1881
Removal of intrahepatic bile duct stone could reduce the risk of cholangiocarcinoma
Gowthami Sai Kogilathota Jagirdhar, Yatinder Bains, Salim Surani
Gowthami Sai Kogilathota Jagirdhar, Department of Medicine, Saint Francis Health Science Center, Newark, NJ 07107, United States
Yatinder Bains, Department of Gastroenteroly, Saint Michaels Medical Center, Newark, NJ 07102, United States
Salim Surani, Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States
Author contributions: Jagirdhar GSK, Bains Y and Surani S designed the research, wrote the paper, edited and revised the paper; Jagirdhar GSK performed the research and analyzed the data.
Conflict-of-interest statement: None of the authors have any conflict of interest to disclose.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Salim Surani, FACP, FCCP, MD, MHSc, Adjunct Professor, Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, 40 Bizzell Street, College Station, TX 77843, United States. srsurani@hotmail.com
Received: February 14, 2024
Peer-review started: February 14, 2024
First decision: March 2, 2024
Revised: March 6, 2024
Accepted: March 22, 2024
Article in press: March 22, 2024
Published online: April 16, 2024
Abstract

Hepatolithiasis (HL) poses a significant risk for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) development, with reported incidences ranging from 5%-13%. Risk factors include older age, smoking, hepatitis B infection, and prolonged HL duration. Chronic inflammation and mechanical stress on the biliary epithelium contribute to CCA pathogenesis. Hepatectomy reduces CCA risk by removing stones and atrophic liver segments. However, residual stones and incomplete removal increase CCA risk. Kim et al identified carbohydrate antigen 19-9, carcinoembryonic antigen, and stone laterality as CCA risk factors, reaffirming the importance of complete stone removal. Nonetheless, challenges remain in preventing CCA recurrence post-surgery. Longer-term studies are needed to elucidate CCA risk factors further.

Keywords: Hepatolithiasis, Cholangiocarcinoma, Biliary stone, Common bile duct stone, Cholangitis

Core Tip: Hepatolithiasis (HL) poses a significant risk for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), with factors like stone location, recurrence, and incomplete removal influencing risk. While hepatectomy reduces CCA risk, residual stones and incomplete removal pose challenges. Kim et al's study identifies carbohydrate antigen 19-9, carcinoembryonic antigen, and stone laterality as CCA risk factors, supporting prior findings. Nonetheless, discrepancies in bile duct stricture's impact on CCA risk highlight the need for further research. Understanding these factors aids in refining CCA risk assessment and optimizing management strategies for HL-associated CCA.