Inflammatory oncotaxis in cholangiocarcinoma

Inflammatory oncotaxis is the term used to describe the phenomenon whereby mechanically injured tissues are predisposed to the development of metastases. Normal tissue injury elicits an inflammatory response, and it has been found that the microenvironment created is similar to that of the tumour microenvironment. Subsequently tumours have often been described as "wounds that do not heal". Here we present the first reported case of inflammatory oncotaxis in a patient with cholangiocarcinoma in whom the cancer preferentially metastasized to the site of a healing fracture; the underlying mechanisms are discussed. Keywords Cholangiocarcinoma; fracture; metastasis; inflammatory oncotaxis.