Controversies in the Surgical Management of Cholangiocarcinoma and Gallbladder Cancer

Cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer are relatively rare malignancies with poor prognoses. Surgery is the primary form of treatment, with few data being available on the use of adjuvant therapies. Even with regard to surgery, there are few definitive data supporting various approaches that nevertheless are widely used and have become recognized as traditional. This review examines available information and controversies in the areas of preoperative evaluation and surgical treatment of cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer.