Key Points 1 Cancers of the biliary tract are categorized into four groups: Gallbladder cancer, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, and distal cholangiocarcinoma. 2 Disregarding cases discovered incidentally at cholecystectomy, carcinoma of the gallbladder, because of its late stage of clinical…
Key Points 1 Diseases of the bile ducts (BDs) usually manifest with symptoms and signs related to BD obstruction, including pain, jaundice, pruritus, fever, and elevated serum levels of liver biochemical tests. 2 Choledocholithiasis, the most common benign disorder of…
Key Points 1 Gallstones are common and generally asymptomatic. 2 Gallstones can result in various clinical sequelae, including biliary pain and acute cholecystitis. 3 Cholecystectomy is the first-line treatment for symptomatic gallstones and acute cholecystitis. 4 In patients who are…
Key Points 1 Liver transplantation (LT) is a life-saving intervention for patients with acute liver failure, end-stage liver disease (ESLD), some inherited and metabolic liver diseases, and a subset of hepatic malignancies such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cholangiocarcinoma (CC), and…
Key Points 1 Minor liver biochemical test abnormalities are common after surgery; overt liver dysfunction is uncommon but more likely if the patient has preexisting liver disease. 2 Hepatic blood flow is reduced by anesthesia, blood loss, and other hemodynamic…
Key Points 1 Primary bacterial infection of the liver is rare. Systemic infections can cause hepatic derangements, ranging from mild liver biochemical test abnormalities to frank jaundice and, rarely, hepatic failure. 2 Many different spirochetal, protozoal, helminthic, and fungal organisms…
Key Points 1 Hepatic abscesses are most commonly pyogenic in Western countries, but amebic abscesses are common in areas of the world where Entamoeba histolytica is endemic. Less frequent causes include fungal and tuberculous abscesses. 2 Diagnosis of hepatic abscess…
Key Points 1 Hemangioma of the liver is found in up to 20% of the normal population and is rarely of clinical consequence. 2 Other benign tumors of the liver are rare, including hepatic adenoma, which usually requires surgical resection…
Key Points 1 Granulomas consist of activated macrophages (epithelioid macrophages) accompanied by T lymphocytes and other immune cells, which infiltrate liver tissue as nodular lesions in reaction to indigestible or foreign antigen or are due to triggering of an untoward…
Key Points 1 Approximately 10% of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected persons worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus. The choice of antiviral therapy depends on the need for HIV treatment. 2 Approximately 30% of HIV-infected persons are chronically coinfected…