Hemoglobin typing in cholangiocarcinoma

Prevalence of thalassemias and/or hemoglobinopathies, particularly hemoglobin E, and cholangiocarcinoma were found more prominently in the lower part of the Northeast of Thailand as compared with the upper part of this region or any other area of the country. The aim of this study was to evaluate if there was coincident distribution or some relationship. Hemoglobin typing by the cellulose acetate method was performed in 111 cases of cholangiocarcinoma, mainly diagnosed by ultrasonography, compared with 146 normal controls. It was found that hemoglobin E trait and beta-thalassemia trait were significantly higher in the former group.