2016 Volume 30 Issue 4 Pages 699-708
Complete surgical resection is only a curable treatment for cholangiocarcinoma. However, postoperative incurable results of remnant cancer at the bile duct or unresectable case and postoperative tumor recurrence are often observed. Although systemic chemotherapy or brachytherapy are selected, evidence of efficacy for local control was not indicated in these modality. While, treatment efficacy and safety by photodynamic therapy (PDT) for unresectable cholangiocarcinoma has been reported since 1988. Since the highly evidence-based clinical trials was reported, PDT was admitted as a useful local control modality to release biliary stricture or prolong survival period clarified worldwide. Although PDT was not developed in Japan, neoadjuvant or chemotherapy-combined PDT or use of new photosensitizer has been recently progressed. As a surgeon's standpoint who professionally experienced PD in Japan, actual managements, current clinical and research status of PDT for cholangiocarcinoma worldwide and the future aspect was summarized and described.
