The role of positron emission tomography (PET) in detecting local recurrence cholangiocarcinoma

Local recurrence of cholangiocarcinoma at resection margins following surgery remains notoriously difficult to be distinguished (clinically and radiologically) from a benign anastomotic stricture. We report the case of a 65-year-old gentleman who presented with fluctuating obstructive jaundice 4 years following his extended right hepatectomy for a hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Although a whole body combined computed tomography–positron emission tomography (PET–CT) suggested no evidence of recurrent disease this was found and confirmed histologically during revision of his hepatico-jejunostomy. This emphasizes the potential false negative rate of PET–CT scanning in the assessment of recurrent cholangiocarcinoma.