Cancer Risk and Surveillance in Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

Abstract

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic, progressive disease characterized by inflammatory and fibrosing strictures of the biliary tree. PSC is associated with a high lifetime risk of hepatobiliary and colorectal cancers. The nature of the carcinogenic process in PSC is not well established. The lack of diagnostic methods for early detection and the limited therapeutic options for cholangiocarcinoma constitute a major challenge in the current handling of PSC patients. The article reviews the risk for cancer development in PSC and discusses surveillance strategies for PSC-associated cancers.

Keywords: Brush cytology; Carcinoma; Cholangiocarcinoma; Dysplasia; Inflammatory bowel disease; Primary sclerosing cholangitis; Surveillance.