Biliary Tract and Gallbladder Cancer

Biliary Tract and Gallbladder Cancer: Diagnosis and Therapy is a comprehensive and definitive discussion of all aspects of the treatment of malignant tumors of the gallbladder and biliary tract. This is the first book to examine these cancers in such depth, as rapid advances in surgical oncology and radiotherapeutic approaches have demanded the full coverage this text provides.
The book progresses logically, with early chapters presenting the epidemiologic, pathologic, and pathogenetic characteristics of BT and GB lesions, followed by excellent discussions of clinical and radiologic diagnosis and staging. Finally, the full arsenal of therapeutic approaches is presented, from the local to systemic, established to experimental. Segments throughout detail the most current cutting-edge therapies, making the latest information readily available across a number of subdisciplines.

Features of this unique textbook include:

An exclusive and comprehensive focus on neoplasms of the gallbladder and biliary tract
A multidisciplinary focus, with contributions from medical, surgical, and radiation oncology, pathology, and imaging, and a clear emphasis on team-based approaches to oncologic care
The latest clinical research and treatment discussions from international experts
Biliary Tract and Gallbladder Cancer serves as the single-source knowledge base for multidisciplinary biliary tract cancer management. It is comprehensive enough to demonstrate new treatments of biliary tract cancer to experienced practitioners, yet concise enough to serve as an introduction to novices in the field.

- return to top -

Reviews
"This is an excellent overview of a rare group of malignancies of the biliary tract and gallbladder. It is well written and tightly edited. It should be in every large institutional resource library and would be an invaluable tool for medical and surgical oncology fellows and radiation oncology residents" - James G. Douglas, MD, MS, (University of Washington Medical Center)

"In summary, this book is an excellent choice for any physician seeking a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and cutting-edge review of biliary tract and gallbladder cancer. The emphasis on a team approach to these tumors is demonstrated by the vast array of contributors from all over the world who are experts in many different specialties. Therefore, this book would be a great resource on this topic for fellows and junior faculty in gastroenterology, radiology, surgery, and oncology. As the title indicates, this book examines all aspects related to the diagnosis and therapy of these malignancies and provides the reader with a unique insight into these tumors."-- Uzma D. Siddiqui, MD, Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, Volume 43, Number 9, October 2009

- return to top -

Contents
General Considerations; Epidemiology of Gallbladder and Biliary Tract Neoplasms; Role of Growth Factor Signaling Pathways; Diagnostic Approaches; Histopathology and Molecular Pathogenesis of Gallbladder Cancer; Histopathology and Pathogenesis of Biliary Tract Cancer; Novel Biomarkers for Biliary Tract Cancer; Pathological Staging of Gallbladder and Biliary Tract Cancer; Overview of Current Diagnostic Imaging Strategies; Imaging of Hepatic Transplantation for Biliary Tract Cancer; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Functional Imaging; Computed Tomography; Therapeutic Approaches; Radiofrequency Ablation; Chemoembolization; Surgical Management of Intrahepatic Biliary Tract Cancer; Surgical Management of Extrahepatic Biliary Tract Cancer; Surgical Management of Gallbladder Cancer; Systemic Therapy for Biliary Tract Cancer; Radiation Therapy; 3D-Conformal and Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy; Brachytherapy; Image-Guided Radiation Therapy and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy; Symptom Management and Palliation; Summary; Future Directions.
- return to top -

About the Authors
Charles Thomas, MD
Charles R. Thomas, Jr, MD, is ProfessorChairman of the Department of Radiation Medicine and Professor of Hematology/Oncology at the Oregon Health & Science University Cancer Institute

Clifton Fuller, MD

Clifton David Fuller, MD is at the Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.