Editing Cholangiocarcinoma (section)

===Staging===
Although there are at least three [[Cancer staging|staging systems]] for cholangiocarcinoma (e.g. those of Bismuth, Blumgart, and the [[American Joint Committee on Cancer]]), none have been shown to be useful in predicting survival.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Zervos EE, Osborne D, Goldin SB, Villadolid DV, Thometz DP, Durkin A, Carey LC, Rosemurgy AS | display-authors = 6 | title = Stage does not predict survival after resection of hilar cholangiocarcinomas promoting an aggressive operative approach | journal = American Journal of Surgery | volume = 190 | issue = 5 | pages = 810–5 | date = November 2005 | pmid = 16226963 | doi = 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2005.07.025 }}</ref> The most important staging issue is whether the tumor can be [[Segmental resection|surgically removed]], or whether it is too advanced for surgical treatment to be successful. Often, this determination can only be made at the time of surgery.<ref name="feldman2"/>

General guidelines for operability include:<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Tsao JI, Nimura Y, Kamiya J, Hayakawa N, Kondo S, Nagino M, Miyachi M, Kanai M, Uesaka K, Oda K, Rossi RL, Braasch JW, Dugan JM | display-authors = 6 | title = Management of hilar cholangiocarcinoma: comparison of an American and a Japanese experience | journal = Annals of Surgery | volume = 232 | issue = 2 | pages = 166–74 | date = August 2000 | pmid = 10903592 | pmc = 1421125 | doi = 10.1097/00000658-200008000-00003 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Rajagopalan V, Daines WP, Grossbard ML, Kozuch P | title = Gallbladder and biliary tract carcinoma: A comprehensive update, Part 1 | journal = Oncology | volume = 18 | issue = 7 | pages = 889–96 | date = June 2004 | pmid = 15255172 }}</ref>
* Absence of [[lymph node]] or [[liver]] [[Metastasis|metastases]]
* Absence of involvement of the [[portal vein]]
* Absence of direct invasion of adjacent organs
* Absence of widespread metastatic disease