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Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an adenocarcinoma originating from the epithelial cells of the bile ducts/hepatocytes or peribiliary glands. There are three types of cholangiocarcinoma: intrahepatic, perihilar and distal. CCA represents approximately 3% of the gastrointestinal malignancies. The incidence of CCA is higher in regions of the Eastern world compared to the Western countries. There are multiple risk factors associated with cholangiocarcinoma such as liver fluke, primary sclerosing cholangitis, chronic hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Endoscopy plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of cholangiocarcinoma. The main endoscopic methods used for diagnosis, biliary drainage and delivering intrabiliary local therapies are endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic ultrasound. The purpose of this review is to analyze the current data found in literature about cholangiocarcinoma, with a focus on the actual diagnostic tools and endoscopic management options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic pancreatitis is a heterogeneous and complex syndrome that, in most cases, causes pain as a cardinal symptom and affects both the morphology and function of the pancreas, leading to several serious complications. The present review, based on a non-systematic PubMed search updated to June 2023, aims to present the current available evidence on the role of gastroenterologists in the diagnosis and treatment of both local and systemic complications by either endoscopic or medical treatments. At diagnosis and during chronic pancreatitis follow-up, particular care is needed to consider not only the clinically manifest signs and symptoms of the disease, such as pain, jaundice, gastrointestinal obstruction, and pseudocysts, which require multidisciplinary discussion to establish the best treatment option (endoscopic or surgical), but also less evident systemic complications. Pancreatic exocrine and endocrine insufficiency, together with chronic inflammation, addiction, and dysbiosis, contribute to malnutrition, sarcopenia, and osteopathy. These complications, in turn, increase the risk of infection, thromboembolic events, and death. Patients with chronic pancreatitis also have an increased risk of psychiatric disorders and pancreatic cancer onset. Overall, patients with chronic pancreatitis should receive a holistic evaluation, considering all these aspects, possibly through multidisciplinary care in dedicated expert centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]