Chronic opisthorchiasis invasion as a factor aggravating the development of cholangiocellular carcinoma. A literature review

Objective: to summarize current literature data indicating the feasibility of using invasive and non-invasive procedures for the early detection of cholangiocarcinoma, and to identify associations with chronic opisthorchiasis invasion. Material and Methods. A literature search was conducted using Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Elibrary.ru databases. Over 200 publications on the diagnosis, prevalence, and treatment methods of cholangiocellular liver cancer were analyzed, with 59 included in the final review. Statistically significant relationships were found between chronic opisthorchiasis and an increased incidence of cholangiocellular carcinoma. Results. Early detection and treatment methods ofcholangiocarcinoma remain challenging. The complexity of verifying hepatic duct cancer stems from its varied locations, its tendency to be asymptomatic until advanced stages, and the absence of specific, reliable early diagnostic tests. Surgical treatment of liver tumors does not always satisfy both patients and physicians due to low 5-year survival rates, high complication rates, and late presentation of patients for medical care. In addition, there is a difficulty in managing the preoperative period due to the need to compensate for the functional state of the liver, hypocoagulation and normalization of protein-electrolyte metabolism disorders due to rapidly developing mechanical jaundice. Conclusion. Early deworming of opisthorchiasis is one of the factors in the prevention of liver cancer, and timely decompression of the bile ducts in cases of mechanical jaundice increases survival and reduces the incidence of complications, potentially allowing for more radical treatment. Of crucial importance is the ongoing search for non-invasive diagnostic methods for the early detection of liver cancer, which focuses on the analysis of the molecular composition of biological fluids and tissues. Bile mass spectrometry in patients with chronic opisthorchiasis can potentially lead to new diagnostic methods for bile duct cancer and help improve treatment outcomes.