A Klatskin tumour is a growth that affects part of the bile ducts and are named after the American doctor who first described them in 1965.

The bile ducts are a collection of small tubes that drain the bile from the liver, via the gallbladder, into the small intestine. The bile is drained from the right and left side of the liver by the right and left hepatic ducts.   These join together to form the common bile duct.

A Klatskin tumour is a tumour which develops from the cells lining the inside of the hepatic ducts at the point where they join to form the common bile duct. Klatskin tumours are cancers and can grow and spread into the surrounding tissues, like the liver and nearby lymph nodes.

Because the cancers first tend to grow into the ducts they often cause a blockage of the flow of the bile.  This leads to jaundice, causing a yellow colour to the skin and the whites of the eyes.  Jaundice is usually the first symptom of a Klatskin tumour.

Whenever possible the treatment of these cancers is an operation to take them away. Sometimes chemotherapy or a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy may be given after surgery to reduce the risk of the cancer retuning.

However because of the position of the bile ducts, and the fact that the cancer may have spread to the liver, surgery may not be possible. In this situation jaundice is usually the main problem, due to tumour blocking the bile ducts and treatment is directed to easing this.  If there is a blockage, a metal coil (stent) may be inserted to open up the duct to allow the bile to flow.

Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or a combination of both, may be given to control disease that has become advanced and to manage symptoms. As this type of cancer is uncommon, people may be asked to join a research trial to evaluate the benefits and disadvantages of their treatment.