[Cholangiocarcinoma developing in printing company workers: a new type of occupational cancer]

The incidence of cholangiocarcinoma among the past or present workers in the department of offset color proof-printing at a printing company in Osaka was extremely high. The workers were relatively young and were exposed to several chemicals including organic solvents such as dichloromethane and 1,2-dichloropropane. Although the exact cause of cholangiocarcinoma in the patients remain unknown, it is likely that the development of cholangiocarcinoma was triggered during exposure to these chemicals. Some chemicals can act as environmental factors that lead to the development of cholangiocarcinoma. Therefore, we believe that cholangiocarcinoma is a new type of occupational cancer.