Hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) is one of the most common types of hepatobiliary cancers reported in the world including Asia–Pacific region. Early HCCA may be completely asymptomatic. When significant hilar obstruction develops, the patient presents with jaundice, pale stools, dark urine, pruritus, abdominal pain, and sometimes fever. Because no single test can establish the definite diagnosis then, a combination of many investigations such as tumor markers, tissue acquisition, computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic ultrasonography/intraductal ultrasonography, and advanced cholangioscopy is required. Surgery is the only curative treatment. Unfortunately, the majority of HCCA has a poor prognosis due to their advanced stage on presentation. Although there is no survival advantage, inoperable HCCA managed by palliative drainage may benefit from symptomatic improvement. Currently, there are three techniques of biliary drainage which include endoscopic, percutaneous, and surgical approaches. For nonsurgical approaches, stent is the most preferred device and there are two types of stents i.e. plastic and metal. Type of stent and number of stent for HCCA biliary drainage are subjected to debate because the decision is made under many grounds i.e. volume of liver drainage, life expectancy, expertise of the facility, etc. Recently, radio‐frequency ablation and photodynamic therapy are promising techniques that may extend drainage patency. Through a review in the literature and regional data, the Asia–Pacific Working Group for hepatobiliary cancers has developed statements to assist clinicians in diagnosing and managing of HCCA. After voting anonymously using modified Delphi method, all final statements were determined for the level of evidence quality and strength of recommendation.

Pre-operative hypoalbuminemia is a major risk factor for postoperative complications following rectal cancer surgery

Clofazimine-induced crystal-storing histiocytosis is a rare but well-recognized condition in the literature. Besides the common reddish discoloration of the skin, clofazimine produces gastrointestinal disturbances—sometimes severe abdominal pain, prompting exploratory laparotomy, because pathologic and radiologic findings can produce diagnostic difficulties if the pathologic changes caused by clofazimine are not recognized. The authors report such a case in a leprosy patient to emphasize the importance of history taking, the radiologic abnormalities of the small intestine, and the pathologic findings in small intestine and lymph node biopsies. Clofazimine crystals are red in the frozen section and exhibit bright-red birefringence. However, they are clear in routinely processed histologic sections because they dissolve in alcohol and organic solvents. They also appear as clear crystal spaces during electron microscopic study, but some osmiophilic bodies can be observed. Histiocytosis caused by clofazimine crystals produces infiltrative lesions in radiologic studies mimicking malignant lymphoma or other infiltrative disorders. Associated plasmacytosis in the histologic sections can simulate lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma or multiple myeloma with crystal-storing histiocytosis. With the knowledge of this rare condition caused by clofazimine, appropriate management to avoid an unnecessary laparotomy is possible.

Endoscopic tattooing of colorectal lesions: Is it a risk-free procedure?