Primary squamous cell cholangiocarcinoma: a case report

We report a case of primary squamous cell cholangiocarcinoma. A 62-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with right upper quadrant abdominal pain and jaundice for 2 weeks. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) confirmed a soft tissue mass at the common hepatic bile duct (CHD). Magnetic resonance cholangio pancreatography (MRCP) revealed luminal stenosis of the CHD with dilation of both intrahepatic ducts. We performed curative resection for bile carcinoma and choledochojejunostomy. Histopathologially, tumor cells were arranged in nesting pattern that infiltrated the entire bile duct wall as well as the perineural tissues. Immunohistochemistry was as follows: AE1/AE3 (+), CAM5.2 (+), CK5/6 (+), p63 (+), p40 (+), AB-PAS (-), CGA (-), Syn (-), Ki67 (~30%). These results supported a diagnosis of biliary tract low differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. We also reviewed other 2 cases in our hospital during the past 10 years. Radical surgery should be most effective treatment for these patients, but chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy still need to be further studied.