CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Cholangiocarcinoma

Abstract

Cholangiocarcinoma is a devastating cancer with a poor prognosis. Patients are often diagnosed at the advanced stage, and curative surgery is impossible. Radiation therapy is used for cases of advanced cancer. A 50-year-old woman with stage IVb intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma was diagnosed with unresectable cancer, and had chemotherapy; however, the disease progressed. CyberKnife radiosurgery was performed, which was able to control the symptoms of liver failure and prolong her life. Her symptoms, which included jaundice, ascites, and edema disappeared and her tumor markers became normal. Even though she relapsed and was not able to survive, she was able to stay home with her family until the last days of her life. CyberKnife radiosurgery was useful as a non-invasive palliative treatment and successfully alleviated the symptoms of a patient with advanced cancer.