Beschreibung:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Liver cirrhosis is a recognized risk factor for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (I‐<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CC</jats:styled-content>a). Small I‐<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CC</jats:styled-content>a nodules might be undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as hepatocellular carcinoma (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HCC</jats:styled-content>) in the context of liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and clinical impact of undetected I‐<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CC</jats:styled-content>a in liver explants of adult cirrhotic patients undergoing liver transplantation (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">LT</jats:styled-content>). From December 1985 to November 2008, a first <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">LT</jats:styled-content> was performed in 993 adult cirrhotic patients in three French academic Hospitals. All liver explants were analyzed for the presence of nodules. The diagnosis of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HCC</jats:styled-content> was made in 331 cases (33.3% of the patients). Similarly, an I‐<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CC</jats:styled-content>a was identified in 10 (1%) patients, with a mean size of 31 ± 17 mm. The mean age at transplantation was 58.8 yr (range 45 – 66), and all the patients were men. The mean follow‐up after <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">LT</jats:styled-content> was 33 months (range 4–52). Post‐transplant tumor recurrence was observed in five patients (50%), after a mean delay of 10 months. All five patients died. Malignant recurrence was associated with the presence of venous emboli on liver explants. Our results suggest that unrecognized I‐<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CC</jats:styled-content>a complicating liver cirrhosis is a rare entity, associated with high risk of recurrence and poor prognosis.</jats:p>