Extended cholecystectomy for carcinoma of the gallbladder

Radical Resection Versus Simple Cholecystectomy for Gallbladder Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

PURPOSE

The goal of this study was to review relevant randomized controlled trials or case-control studies to determine radical resection compared with simple cholecystectomy for gallbladder carcinoma.

METHODS

Using appropriate keywords, we identified relevant studies using PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase. Key pertinent sources in the literature were also reviewed, and all articles published through September 2019 were considered for inclusion. For each study, we assessed odds ratios, mean difference, and 95% confidence interval (CI) to assess and synthesize outcomes.

RESULTS

We included 19 studies with a total of 1791 patients in the radical resection group and 3014 in the simple cholecystectomy group. Compared with simple cholecystectomy, radical resection significantly improved the 5-year disease-free survival rate [relative risk (RR): 1.36, 95% CI: 1.02-1.81], the 1-year overall survival (OS) rate (RR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.04-1.54), and the 3-year OS rate (RR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.02-2.85). However, there was no significant difference in the recurrence rate (RR: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.87-1.23), and in the 5-year OS rate (RR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.92-1.19) between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSION

Compared with simple cholecystectomy, radical resection has advantages in improving the 5-year disease-free survival rate, and the 1- and 3-year OS rate of gallbladder carcinoma patients.

Impact of surgical strategies on the survival of gallbladder cancer patients: analysis of 715 cases

Objective

The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of application of surgical strategies at different cancer stages on the survival of gallbladder cancer (GBC) patients.

Methods

The patients with GBC were divided into 3 groups according to their received surgical strategies: simple resection (full-thickness cholecystectomy for removal of primary tumor site), radical resection (gallbladder bed removal combined with partial hepatectomy), and palliative surgery (treatment at advanced stages). The overall survival (OS) of GBC patients who were received different surgical strategies was compared.

Results

Survival analysis showed that radical resection had a best OS at clinical stage II, and simple resection had a best OS at tumor clinical stage IV. Cox hazard proportional regression analysis showed that more advanced tumor stages, tumor location of gallbladder body or neck, and CA199 ≥ 27 U/mL were the major risk factors for the OS of GBC.

Conclusions

At tumor stage II, radical resection should be the most effective surgical therapy for GBC. However, the effect of radical resection at advanced stages could be restricted. The utilization of radical resection should be increased at tumor stage II for a better long-term survival outcome.

Survival benefits of simple versus extended cholecystectomy and lymphadenectomy for patients with T1b gallbladder cancer: An analysis of the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database (2004 to 2013)

Although guidelines recommend extended surgical resection, radical resection and lymphadenectomy for patients with tumor stage (T)1b gallbladder cancer, these procedures are substantially underutilized. This population‐based, retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate treatment patterns and outcomes of 401 patients using the US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 2004 to 2013. Results showed that median overall survival (OS) was 69 months for lymphadenectomy patients and 37 months for those without lymphadenectomy. Lymphadenectomy also tended to prolong cancer‐specific survival (CSS), although the differences were not statistically significant. OS and CSS were similar for patients who received simple cholecystectomy and extended surgical resection. Cox proportional hazards regression models revealed survival advantages in patients with stage T1bN0 gallbladder cancer compared to those with stage T1bN1, and patients who received simple cholecystectomy plus lymphadenectomy compared to those who did not receive lymph node dissection. In further analyses, patients undergoing simple cholecystectomy who had five or more lymph nodes excised had better OS and CSS than those without lymph node dissection. In conclusion, survival advantages are shown for patients with T1b gallbladder cancer undergoing surgeries with lymphadenectomy. Future studies with longer follow‐up and control of potential confounders are highly warranted.

Surgery in node-positive gallbladder cancer: The implication of an involved superior retro-pancreatic lymph node

BACKGROUND

The treatment approach to node-positive gallbladder cancer has unresolved issues with regard to the management of patients with a positive superior retro-pancreatic (level 13a) node, which is the highest level of spread. The American Joint Committee on Cancer remains unclear on the status of the 13a node.

METHODS

This retrospective study consisted of 165 patients with node-positive gallbladder cancer without distant metastasis. Patients were reclassified according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer eighth edition classification. The survival of patients with positive level 13a node was compared with that of patients with N1 disease (T stage-wise) and those with para-aortic nodal disease. A multivariate analysis was performed for factors affecting survival.

RESULTS

The 5-year survival of patients with positive level 13a with 1-3 nodes was similar to those with N1 disease (40.2% and 32.9%, respectively) and was better than those with more distant nodal spread (P < .05). In univariate and multivariate analyses, intraoperative blood loss (hazard ratio [HR] 1.58), R1 resection (HR 1.87), and T4 disease (versus T2, HR 3.44) were poor prognosticators. Pancreaticoduodenectomy may be beneficial in T2 patients.

CONCLUSION

A positive superior retro-pancreatic node does not worsen the prognosis in an otherwise N1 disease in T1/T2 gallbladder cancer. It behaves like a regional lymph node and should be treated as such.

Gallbladder cancer: a journey of a thousand steps

This article traces the journey of one of the teams from India that has been actively managing and researching gallbladder cancer for more than a decade, providing insights into the work carried out and highlighting areas that warrant future research in this cancer traditionally known for its dismal outcomes.

Gall Bladder Cancer

Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is the most common biliary epithelial malignancy, with an estimated 10,910 new cases and 3700 deaths per year (Siegel et al. in CA Cancer J Clin 65:5–29, 2015 [1]). This disease’s insidious nature and typically late presentation place it among the most lethal of invasive neoplasms. Gallbladder cancer spreads early by lymphatic or hematogenous metastasis and by direct invasion into the liver. While surgery may well be curative at early stages, both surgical and nonsurgical treatments remain largely unsuccessful in patients with more advanced disease.

Surgical treatment of gallbladder carcinoma: a critical review

Gallbladder carcinoma is a relatively uncommon cancer of gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Medical literature is full of nihilistic reports about the treatment of gallbladder carcinoma, especially due to its resistance to current radiotherapeutic or chemotherapeutic treatment modalities and difficult surgical approach for complete resection of these tumors. Herein, we review current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to this rare GI cancer.

Gallbladder Cancer in the 21st Century

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is an uncommon disease in the majority of the world despite being the most common and aggressive malignancy of the biliary tree. Early diagnosis is essential for improved prognosis; however, indolent and nonspecific clinical presentations with a paucity of pathognomonic/predictive radiological features often preclude accurate identification of GBC at an early stage. As such, GBC remains a highly lethal disease, with only 10% of all patients presenting at a stage amenable to surgical resection. Among this select population, continued improvements in survival during the 21st century are attributable to aggressive radical surgery with improved surgical techniques. This paper reviews the current available literature of the 21st century on PubMed and Medline to provide a detailed summary of the epidemiology and risk factors, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, radiology, pathology, management, and prognosis of GBC.

Surgical treatment of gallbladder cancer: Strategy and optimization

Gallbladder cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the biliary tract. It is difficult to diagnose early due to the lack of special symptoms and physical signs. Most cases are diagnosed in advanced stages and the response to traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy is extremely limited, with modest impact on overall survival. Despite improvements in outcome associated with extended resections, selection of patients for such extensive surgery remains controversial. In this article, we analyze and discuss the key issues about the surgical management of gallbladder cancer, with the hope of a more comprehensive recognition of this malignancy.

Surgical treatment of advanced gallbladder cancer

OBJECTIVE

Radical lymph node dissection in surgery for advanced gallbladder cancer is controversial. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the different extent of lymph node dissection for N2 stage gallbladder cancer patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis was made of 60 patients with N2 stage who underwent standard regional lymphadenectomy (SRLN) and extended regional lymphadenectomy (ERLN). Between September 2000 and June 2011, 60 advanced gallbladder cancer patients with N2 stage of lymph node metastasis were included in this study. The curative effects with different extent of lymphadenctomy for lymph node N2 stage of gallbladder cancer patients were compared.

RESULTS

The median survival time was 34.83 months in the SRLN group and 30.28 months in the ERLN group. There was no significant difference of survival rate between SRLN and ERLN group (P=0.51). Postoperative major morbidity and mortality rates were 64.3% and 7.14% in the SRLN group, 81.3% and 9.34% in the ERLN group, respectively. Moreover, the number of positive lymph nodes and chemotherapy were found to correlate with survival on univariate analyses (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

For advanced gallbladder patients with N2 stage lymph node metastasis, ERLN cannot provide a significant survival benefit over SRLN and the rate of morbidity and mortality in ERLN is exceptionally high. ERLN therefore should not be considered in the advanced gallbladder cancers with N2 stage.

Pathology report assessment of incidental gallbladder carcinoma diagnosed from cholecystectomy specimens: results of a French multicentre survey

AIMS

To assess the accuracy of pathology reports on gallbladder specimens from patients operated on for incidental gallbladder carcinoma.

METHODS

Demographic data, details on pathological reports including gross and microscopic features section were recorded in 100 selected patients with incidental gallbladder carcinoma diagnosed from 2004 to 2007.

RESULTS

Pathology reports had a conventional format in 93% of cases, without any standardization. Turnaround time ranged from 1 to 35 days. Frozen sections were performed in 20% of cases. The reports failed to give information on prognostic histological factors: exact tumour site (missing in 55% of cases), depth of tumour infiltration within the gallbladder wall (missing in 10%), surgical margins (missing in 40% for the cystic duct margin), tumour differentiation (missing in 28%), vascular invasion (missing in 52%) and perineural invasion (missing in 51%). Lymph node status could be assessed in 44% of cases. Distances between the tumour and the cystic duct and circumferential margins were not specified in 68% and 84% of cases. Only 29% of the reports clearly stated the pTNM stage in the conclusion section. The pT stage with margin status and tumour site was only mentioned in 30% of the reports.

CONCLUSION

Pathology reports on gallbladder carcinoma from participating centres frequently lacked important information on key prognostic histological factors.

Routine histopathology for carcinoma in cholecystectomy specimens not evidence based: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Routine histopathological examination of gallbladder specimens is mainly performed to identify unexpected gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). This systematic review assesses the prevalence and characteristics of GBC in cholecystectomy specimens.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched for all articles reporting on the finding of GBC in cholecystectomy specimens.

RESULTS

Of the 30 articles included, 20 were from Europe and the United States, and 10 were of Asian origin. In the Western studies, 276 cases of GBC were found in 61,542 specimens (median prevalence 0.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.3-0.6). Of these, 65% were expected pre- or intraoperatively. In the Asian studies, 344 cases of GBC were found in 37,365 specimens (median prevalence 1.2%, 95% CI 0.8-1.7). Of these, 45% were expected pre- or intraoperatively. In a subgroup analysis, identification of previously unexpected GBC affected treatment in only a minority of patients. In total, 72% of the patients received no further treatment and 32 patients (22%) received secondary surgery, of whom 15 patients survived at least 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

The histopathological finding of GBC after cholecystectomy appears to be a rare event. The prevalence of unexpected GBC was higher in Asian studies than in Western studies. The pre- and intraoperative sensitivity for this carcinoma is low. Moreover, the diagnosis of GBC at the time of histopathology is usually inconsequential. The results of this systematic review do not support routine histopathology of cholecystectomy specimens in clinical practice.

Incidentally detected gallbladder cancer- the controversies and algorithmic approach to management

Incidentally discovered gallbladder cancer (IGBC) is defined as the gallbladder cancer (GBC) diagnosed during or after the cholecystectomy done for unsuspected benign gallbladder disease. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the most common procedure performed for benign gallbladder disease worldwide. Majority of GBC patients have associated gallstones. With the advent of ultrasonography more patients are being diagnosed with gallstones and are being subjected to cholecytectomy. IGBC is found in 0.2-2.9 % of all cholecytectomies done for gallstone disease. It represents 27-41 % of all GBC. Patients with IGBC having Tis and T1a stage, with negative cystic duct margin can be treated by simple cholecystectomy alone. Patients with stage T1b and beyond should undergo restaging, and should be treated with radical re - resection (R0). Residual disease is found in 40-76 % patients on re-exploration. The survival rates of patients undergoing re resection for IGBC is similar to those undergoing primary radical surgery. LC is contraindicated in patients with GBC. Patients presenting post LC should undergo radical re- resection and additional port site excision, as they have a high incidence of port site metastasis. At cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder disease all gallbladder specimens should be opened before closing abdomen and if available all suspicious specimens should be sent for immediate frozen section. All gallbladder specimens should be subjected to histopathology examination to avoid missing GBC. The surgeon should have a high index of suspicion for GBC if encountering difficult cholecystectomy for a benign disease, and in patients with atypical clinical and ultrasound findings in high incidence areas.

Outcomes of radical surgery for gallbladder cancer patients with lymphatic metastases

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate whether radical surgical treatment can be associated with reasonable survival for patients with Stage IV gallbladder cancer with distant lymph node metastasis.

METHODS

Fifty-five patients (20 men and 35 women) with complete clinical and follow-up data for Japanese Society of Biliary Surgery TNM system Stage IV gallbladder cancer were included in our study. Patients were divided into three treatment groups for clinical analysis: Group A (radical resection, n = 24), Group B (chemotherapy, n = 8) and Group C (other palliative treatment, n = 23).

RESULTS

The survival rate in Group A was significantly higher when compared with Groups B (P=0.008) and C (P=0.004). Moreover, the prognosis of patients with distant lymph node metastasis (Group A2, Japanese Society of Biliary Surgery N3; American Joint Committee on Cancer M1) was significantly worse versus those with local lymph node metastasis (Group A1, Japanese Society of Biliary Surgery N1-N2; American Joint Committee on Cancer N1) (P=0.007). Most importantly, no significant difference in the survival rate was observed between patients in Group A2 and Groups B (P = 0.47) or C (P = 0.74).

CONCLUSIONS

Radical resection might result in a reasonable prognosis for gallbladder cancer patients with local metastasis of the lymph nodes (Japanese Society of Biliary Surgery N1-N2), but was not effective when distant lymph nodes (Japanese Society of Biliary Surgery N3) were involved.

Survival of a cohort of patients with Intermediate and advanced gall bladder cancer treated with a prospective therapeutic protocol

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of a prospective therapeutic protocol with long-term follow up in terms of survival rates in a cohort of patients treated with Intermediate and Advanced GBC (GBC). METHODS: Prospective cohort of patients with intermediate and advanced stages of GBC treated between 1996 and 2006. All cases were treated with a partial hepatic segmentectomy on segments IVb and V and a regional lymph node dissection and six cycles of out-patient chemotherapy (5-FU and leukovorin). With an average follow-up of 31.5 months, the morbidity, operative mortality, hepatic and lymphatic infiltration and actuarial survival were measured. Descriptive statistics were applied as well as bivariate analysis applying Fisher's exact test and non-parametrical tests and Kaplan Meier survival curves. Also logistic regression and proportional risk of Cox were applied. RESULTS: 40 patients were included in this protocol, with an average age of 59.5 years (40-85 years), of which 28 were women (70%). Depth of wall infiltration: muscular 8 patients (20%), subserosal 12 patients (30%), serosal 12 patients (30%) and perivesicular adipose tissue 8 patients (20%). The series morbidity was 27.5%. There was no operative mortality. The chemotherapy was well tolerated. The overall actuarial survival in the series was 50% at 60 months. CONCLUSION: Our protocol treatment has morbidity, mortality and survival rates similar to previously reported series.

Management of gallbladder cancer

Resection is a means of improving survival in patients with gallbladder cancer. A more aggressive surgical approach, including resection of the gallbladder, liver, and regional lymph nodes, is advisable for patients with T1b to T4 tumors. Aggressive resection is necessary because a patient's gallbladder cancer stage determines the outcome, not the surgery itself. Therefore, major resections should be offered to appropriately selected patients. Patients with advanced tumors or metastatic disease are not candidates for radical resection and thus should be directed to more suitable palliation.

Current management of gallbladder carcinoma

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) represents the most common and aggressive type among the biliary tree cancers (BTCs). Complete surgical resection offers the only chance for cure; however, only 10% of patients with GBC present with early-stage disease and are considered surgical candidates. Among those patients who do undergo "curative" resection, recurrence rates are high. There are no established adjuvant treatments in this setting. Patients with unresectable or metastatic GBC have a poor prognosis. There has been a paucity of randomized phase III data in this field. A recent report demonstrated longer overall survival with gemcitabine in combination with cisplatin than with gemcitabine alone in patients with advanced or metastatic BTCs. Molecularly targeted agents are under development. In this review, we attempt to discuss the current status and key issues involved in the management of GBC.

FU-MK-1 expression in human gallbladder carcinoma: an antigenic prediction marker for a better postsurgical prognosis

Gallbladder carcinoma is an aggressive type of neoplasm difficult to cure by conventional procedures. Because of the lack of reliable markers for assessing the prognosis, this retrospective study was designed to investigate the prognostic significance of MK-1 overexpression in human carcinoma of the gallbladder. Immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal antibody FU-MK-1 (MK-1 antigen) was performed on paraffin-embedded tissues from 63 patients who had undergone surgical resection for gallbladder carcinoma. Expression of MK-1 was found in 50 (79%) of 63 tumor samples. All 21 papillary and 12 of 13 well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinomas but only 1 of 8 poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas were positive for FU-MK-1. Multivariate analysis showed that only MK-1 expression was an independent prognostic marker (P = .0473), and Kaplan-Meier curves showed that MK-1 expression was significantly related to increased overall survival (P < .0001). These results suggest that MK-1 expression is a prognostic marker in gallbladder carcinoma.

Evolving treatment strategies for gallbladder cancer

Gallbladder cancer is an uncommon cancer that has traditionally been associated with a poor prognosis. In the era of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, incidental gallbladder cancer has dramatically increased and now constitutes the major way patients present with gallbladder cancer. While patients with incidental gallbladder cancer have a better survival than patients with nonincidental gallbladder cancer, incidental gallbladder cancer can be associated with a varied prognosis. Imaging with computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and [18]F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET), as well as diagnostic laparoscopy, all have varying roles in the workup of patients with incidental gallbladder cancer. For patients with T1b, T2, and T3 incidental gallbladder cancer re-resection is generally recommended. At re-exploration, many patients with incidental gallbladder cancer will have residual disease. Definitive oncologic management requires re-resection of the liver, portal lymphadenectomy, and attention to the common bile duct. The extent of the hepatic resection should be dictated by the ability to achieve a microscopically negative (R0) margin. Routine resection of the common bile duct is unnecessary but should be undertaken in the setting of a positive cystic duct margin. If an incidental gallbladder cancer is discovered at the time of surgery, whether the surgeon should directly proceed with a more definitive oncologic operation should depend on the surgeon's skill-set and experience. Gallbladder cancer has a propensity to recur. Although data for adjuvant therapy following resection are limited, some data do suggest a survival benefit for adjuvant chemoradiation therapy. Management of patients with gallbladder cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach with input from a surgeon skilled in hepatobiliary surgery.

Consideration of anatomical structures relevant to the surgical strategy for managing gallbladder carcinoma

AIMS

Gallbladder carcinoma usually presents late with advanced disease. It develops in an anatomically complex area. Consideration is given to resection of relevant local structures with respect to outcome.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature review was performed, searching Medline for articles published since 2000, using the MeSH heading of 'gallbladder cancer' and 'surgery'. Abstracts were reviewed and articles retrieved if the main focus of the article centred on the surgical management of gallbladder carcinoma.

OBSERVATIONS

Hepatic resection is advocated and tailored to pathological T stage. Lymph node dissection and bile duct resection, as well as en bloc resection of other viscera, remain areas of controversy.

CONCLUSIONS

Eastern and Western practice standards of care differ, but hepatic resection with some lymph node dissection is present in both approaches. Philosophy regarding aggression with respect to en bloc resection of adjacent organs and actual extent of lymphatic resection remains disparate.

[Central inferior bisegmentectomy (S4B+S5) for gallbladder carcinoma treatment: a series of seven resectable cases]

BACKGROUND

Despite its rarity, gallbladder cancer is an aggressive type of neoplasia with a very poor prognosis. The best resection for oncological purposes continues to be right hepatectomy extended to segment IV. However, bisegmentectomy IV-V is becoming an interesting alternative because of greater preservation of the parenchyma.

AIM

To report the early and late results from bisegmentectomy IV-V in cases of carcinoma of the gallbladder.

METHODS

A series of seven cases of invasive carcinoma is presented (six women and one man). These patients underwent bisegmentectomy IV-V at the General Surgery Service of the Teaching Hospital of the ABC Medical School, Santo André, SP, Brazil. The study was conducted between 2002 and 2006. The patients ages ranged from 52 to 72 years. The diagnosis was preoperative (radiological) in five cases, which were all confirmed by intraoperative frozen-tissue examination, while in two cases the diagnosis was postoperative, following open cholecystectomy.

RESULTS

The duration of the operation ranged from 180 to 340 minutes. The quantity of intraoperative bleeding ranged from 200 to 1500 mL. There were two major complications but no mortality. Six patients did not present any recurrence over the course of 3 to 30 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Bisegmentectomy IV-V may constitute a curative surgical alternative for treating gallbladder cancer. This procedure presents acceptable morbidity and mortality.

Gallbladder cancer--a comprehensive review

AIM

Gallbladder cancer is the fifth most common cancer involving the gastrointestinal tract, but it is the most common malignant tumour of the biliary tract worldwide. The percentage of patients diagnosed to have gallbladder cancer after simple cholecystectomy for presumed gallbladder stone disease is 0.5-1.5%. This tumour is traditionally regarded as a highly lethal disease with an overall 5-year survival of less than 5%. The marked improvement in the outcome of patients with gallbladder cancer in the last decade is because of the aggressive radical surgical approach that has been adopted, and improvements in surgical techniques and peri-operative care. This article aims to review the current approach to the management of gallbladder cancer.

METHODS

A Medline, PubMed database search was performed to identify articles published from 1990 to 2007 using the keywords 'carcinoma of gallbladder', 'gallbladder cancer', 'gallbladder neoplasm' and 'cholecystectomy'.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The overall 5-year survival for patients with gallbladder cancer who underwent Ro curative resection was reported to range from 21% to 69%. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is absolutely contraindicated when gallbladder cancer is known or suspected pre-operatively. Patients with a pre-operative suspicion of gallbladder cancer should undergo open exploration and cholecystectomy after proper pre-operative assessment. For patients whose cancer is an incidental finding on pathological review, a second radical resection is indicated except for Tis and T1a disease. There is still controversy for the optimal management of T1b disease. Although the role of surgery for advanced disease remains controversial, patients with advanced gallbladder cancer can benefit from radical resection, provided a potentially curative Ro resection is possible. There is still no effective adjuvant therapy for gallbladder cancer.

Histological features of lymph node metastasis in patients with biliary tract cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The presence of lymph node (LN) metastases is an important prognostic factor in patients with biliary cancers. The aim of this study was to characterize systematically the morphological features of metastatic LNs in biliary cancers.

METHODS

Four hundred ninety-six LNs (including 112 para-aortic LNs) dissected from 47 patients with biliary cancer were examined. The diameter of the long axis (size) and the percent metastatic area relative to whole-node area were measured from histologic specimens.

RESULTS

The average size of metastatic LNs (9.5 mm) was significantly larger than those without metastasis (6.5 mm; P < 0.01). The optimum cut-off size for positive LNs was >7.5 mm, but the sensitivity of this predictor of metastasis was low (60.8%). In general, metastatic area correlated significantly with the size of metastatic LNs (P = 0.023). Para-aortic LNs contained metastasis in 7.1% of cases, and only 25% of para-aortic LNs with a high ratio of metastatic area could be evaluated from preoperative CT scans.

CONCLUSIONS

Although large LNs are highly suggestive of metastasis, poor detection of many small LNs with a low percentage of metastatic area can increase risk in patients with biliary tract cancer.

Gallbladder cancer

BACKGROUND

Gallbladder cancer (GC) is a relatively rare but highly lethal neoplasm. We review the epidemiology, etiology, pathology, symptoms, diagnosis, staging, treatment, and prognosis of GC.

METHOD

A Pubmed database search between 1971 and February 2007 was performed. All abstracts were reviewed and articles with GC obtained; further references were extracted by hand-searching the bibliography. The database search was done in the English language.

RESULTS

The accurate etiology of GC remains unclear, while the symptoms associated with primary GC are not specific. Treatment with radical cholecystectomy is curative but possible in only 10% to 30% of patients. For patients whose cancer is an incidental finding on pathologic review, re-resection is indicated, where feasible, for all disease except T1a. Patients with advanced disease should receive palliative treatment. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is contraindicated in the presence of GC.

CONCLUSION

Prognosis generally is extremely poor. Improvements in the outcome of surgical resection have caused this approach to be re-evaluated, while the role of chemotherapy and radiotherapy remains controversial.

A new scoring system for gallbladder cancer (aiding treatment algorithm): an analysis of 335 patients

BACKGROUND

There is currently no preoperative staging/scoring system available for gallbladder cancer. Unfortunately, in gallbladder cancer, patients manifest advanced stages of the disease. There is need for a methodology that can aid accurate preoperative staging and the subsequent treatment algorithm. We thus sought to validate a new scoring system, the Tata Memorial Hospital Staging System (TMHSS), for gallbladder cancer.

METHODS

TMHSS is based on the cumulative impact of specific features of computed tomographic scan, presence or absence of jaundice, and serum cancer antigen 19-9 levels. This scoring system was first proposed in 2004. Patients with gallbladder cancer were enrolled onto the testing sample for TMHSS to ascertain its validity. A total of 335 consecutive patients with gallbladder cancer who sought care at the Tata Memorial Hospital between May 1, 2005, and December 31, 2006, were studied. Treatment was suggested on the basis of current existing protocols. Each patient was assigned a TMHSS score, and the treatment decision taken was compared with the algorithm generated for each individual score. Concurrence of the decision taken with the score generated algorithm was tested by the Kendall tau-b test.

RESULTS

Ordinal-by-ordinal analysis of the value of the test was .75, which showed excellent concurrence and a statistically significant P value (P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

TMHSS provides an excellent correlative treatment plan for patients with gallbladder cancer. It has the potential to reduce unnecessary surgical explorations and to direct patients to the ideal treatment strategy, thereby offering a degree of prognostication.

Guidelines for the management of biliary tract and ampullary carcinomas: surgical treatment

The only curative treatment in biliary tract cancer is surgical treatment. Therefore, the suitability of curative resection should be investigated in the first place. In the presence of metastasis to the liver, lung, peritoneum, or distant lymph nodes, curative resection is not suitable. No definite consensus has been reached on local extension factors and curability. Measures of hepatic functional reserve in the jaundiced liver include future liver remnant volume and the indocyanine green (ICG) clearance test. Preoperative portal vein embolization may be considered in patients in whom right hepatectomy or more, or hepatectomy with a resection rate exceeding 50%–60% is planned. Postoperative complications and surgery-related mortality may be reduced with the use of portal vein embolization. Although hepatectomy and/or pancreaticoduodenectomy are preferable for the curative resection of bile duct cancer, extrahepatic bile duct resection alone is also considered in patients for whom it is judged that curative resection would be achieved after a strict diagnosis of its local extension. Also, combined caudate lobe resection is recommended for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Because the prognosis of patients treated with combined portal vein resection is significantly better than that of unresected patients, combined portal vein resection may be carried out. Prognostic factors after resection for bile duct cancer include positive surgical margins, especially in the ductal stump; lymph node metastasis; perineural invasion; and combined vascular resection due to portal vein and/or hepatic artery invasion. For patients with suspected gallbladder cancer, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is not recommended, and open cholecystectomy should be performed as a rule. When gallbladder cancer invading the subserosal layer or deeper has been detected after simple cholecystectomy, additional resection should be considered. Prognostic factors after resection for gallbladder cancer include the depth of mural invasion; lymph node metastasis; extramural extension, especially into the hepatoduodenal ligament; perineural invasion; and the degree of curability. Pancreaticoduodenectomy is indicated for ampullary carcinoma, and limited operation is also indicated for carcinoma in adenoma. The prognostic factors after resection for ampullary carcinoma include lymph node metastasis, pancreatic invasion, and perineural invasion.

Gallbladder carcinoma

Although it is the most common cancer of the biliary tree, gallbladder carcinoma remains an uncommon disease. As a result, many clinicians rarely encounter it and there is uncertainty regarding proper management. Resection is the most effective and only potentially curative treatment. Early stage tumors are often curable with a proper resection; however, many patients present late in the course of the disease when surgical intervention is no longer effective. While other treatment modalities are used in patients with advanced disease, there is limited data on efficacy. In many cases, the diagnosis is made after a cholecystectomy has been performed and an incidental tumor is identified in the specimen. In such cases, reoperation and definitive resection is appropriate and effective for patients with invasive lesions.

Frequent activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase relative to Akt in extrahepatic biliary tract cancer

BACKGROUND

Lack of effective adjuvant therapy against advanced extrahepatic biliary tract carcinoma (BTC) requires that new therapeutic methods, such as molecular targeted therapy, be developed. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Akt signaling pathways, which activate cell proliferation and suppress apoptosis, respectively, may function as important targets for such therapies. The aim of this study was to examine the expression patterns of phosphorylated MAPK (p-MAPK) and phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) proteins in BTC cell lines and clinical specimens.

METHODS

Expression of p-MAPK and p-Akt proteins in four human BTC cell lines and in frozen sections of 20 advanced extrahepatic BTC specimens was analyzed by Western blotting. Thirty formalin-fixed BTC specimens were immunohistochemically stained for p-MAPK and p-Akt using labeled streptavidin-biotin conjugates.

RESULTS

Expression of p-MAPK was observed in three of four (75%) BTC cell lines, whereas no expression of p-Akt was observed. Twenty-three of 30 formalin-fixed specimens stained positive for p-MAPK (77%), whereas only 47% stained positively for p-Akt. Expression of p-MAPK relative to that of p-Akt was also seen more frequently in the frozen specimens.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study suggest that MAPK is activated more frequently than Akt in extrahepatic biliary tract carcinoma.

Diagnosis and surgical management of gallbladder cancer: a review

Gallbladder cancer is one of the most lethal carcinomas and continues to pose many challenges for surgeons. Identifiable risk factors for carcinoma of the gallbladder include cholelithiasis, an anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction, and focal mucosal microcalcifications. Adenocarcinoma is the primary histologic type in most patients and the tumor is frequently associated with Kras and p53 mutations. Radiologic and endoscopic advances in endoscopic ultrasonography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatogram, plus helical computed tomography, have enhanced preoperative staging. Surgical options include cholecystectomy for disease limited to the mucosa (Tis/T1) or a radical cholecystectomy (subsegmental resection of segments IVB and V plus a hepatoduodenal ligament lymphadenectomy) for advanced disease without signs of distant metastasis (T2-4/N0-N2). Some surgeons have advocated more radical hepatic resection including extended right hepatectomy or central bisegmentectomy plus caudate lobectomy. Japanese surgeons have reported studies that included patients having a pancreaticoduodenectomy to improve distal ductal margins and lymphadenectomy for T3 and T4 cancers. These patients have a lower rate of local recurrence but no survival advantage. Options for adjuvant therapy remain limited. Radiation therapy with fluorouracil radiosensitization is the most commonly used postoperative treatments. Current trials are investigating the role of capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and bevacizumab in the management of gallbladder carcinoma.

Incidence pattern and survival for gallbladder cancer over three decades--an analysis of 10301 patients

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the trends in the incidence, survival, and treatment patterns of gallbladder cancer over the last decade.

METHODS

Data of patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program of the National Cancer Institute (SEER 13) with a diagnosis of primary gallbladder cancer from 1973-2002 were examined. The effect of surgery and radiotherapy on survival was examined. Incidence of disease, survival, use of surgery, and radiotherapy for patients diagnosed between 1993 and 2002 (Group B) were compared to the others (Group A).

RESULTS

Median age of the 10301 included patients was 73. 72.4% were female and median survival was 4 months. SEER histologic stage was classified as localized (23.7%), regional (37.4%), and distant (38.9%) patients. Median survival for these stages was 20 months, 5 months, and 2 months, respectively. 81.5% patients underwent surgery and 13.3% radiotherapy. Median survival of patients undergoing surgery was significantly longer (8 versus 2 months, P < 0.0001). Radiotherapy in addition to surgery was associated with prolonged survival for patients with regional and distant stages but not localized stage. Over the 3 decades, the incidence of gallbladder cancer gradually decreased in patients older than 50 years, but increased in younger patients. Significantly fewer Group B patients underwent surgery compared with Group A (74.6% versus 89.9%, P < .001). However, the use of radiotherapy was higher in Group B (14.5% versus 12.4%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Over the last decade, the incidence of gallbladder cancer has reduced in patients older than 50 years with an increased incidence in younger patients. Survival of patients has also improved over the last decade. The number of patients undergoing surgery has reduced with an increase in the use of radiotherapy.

Clinical significance of extrahepatic bile duct resection for advanced gallbladder cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the clinical significance of extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) resection during surgery for advanced gallbladder cancer.

METHODS

Among 110 patients with pT2 or higher grade gallbladder cancer, 58 patients without microscopic invasion to the EHBD were reviewed. Prognostic factors of the 58 patients were evaluated by multivariate analysis. The impact of EHBD resection on survival was assessed in relation to two prognostic determinants: (i) lymph node metastasis: positive (n = 23) and negative (n = 35); (ii) perineural invasion: positive (n = 25) and negative (n = 33).

RESULTS

Hepatic metastasis and perineural invasion were found to be independently significant prognostic factors. (i) No survival benefit of additional EHBD resection could be confirmed in each group of patients with or without nodal metastasis. (ii) In 25 patients with perineural invasion, 14 patients who underwent EHBD resection showed better survival as compared to the 11 patients who did not undergo EHBD resection (5-year survival rate, 46% vs. 0%, P = 0.009). In the remaining 33 patients without perineural invasion, the additional EHBD resection did not yield significant improvement of survival (P = 0.28).

CONCLUSIONS

Resection of EHBD may offer prognostic advantage when perineural invasion exists, even in the absence of biliary infiltration.

Surgical strategies in patients with gallbladder cancer: nihilism to optimism

INTRODUCTION

Gallbladder cancer is an aggressive disease with dismal results of surgical treatment and a poor prognosis. However, over the last few decades selected groups have reported improved results with aggressive surgery for gallbladder cancer.

METHODS

Review of recent world literature was done to provide an update on the current concepts of surgical treatment of this disease.

RESULTS

Long-term survival is possible in early stage gallbladder carcinoma. Tis and T1a gallbladder carcinoma can be treated with simple cholecystectomy only. However, in T1b and beyond cancers, aggressive surgery (extended cholecystectomy) is important in improving the long-term prognosis. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy should not be performed where there is a high index of suspicion of malignancy due to the frequent association with factors (such as gallbladder perforation and bile spill) which may lead to implantation of cancer cells and dissemination. Surgical resection for advanced carcinoma gallbladder is recommended only if a potentially curative R0 resection is possible. Aggressive surgery with vascular and multivisceral resection has been shown to be feasible albeit with an increase in mortality and morbidity. However, the true benefit of these radical resections is yet to be realized, as the actual number of long-term survivors of advanced gallbladder carcinoma is few.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgery for gallbladder carcinoma, like other malignancies, has the potential to be curative only in local or regional disease. Pattern of loco-regional spread of disease dictates the surgical procedure. Radical surgery improves survival in early gallbladder carcinoma. The long-term benefit of aggressive surgery for advanced disease is unclear and may be offset by the high mortality and morbidity.

Management of cancer gallbladder found as a surprise on a resected gallbladder specimen

Carcinoma gallbladder is associated with an overall 5-year survival rate reported less than 5% due to late diagnosis. Advent of ultrasound scanning may help in detecting gallbladder polyps and an early gallbladder cancer. Excellent 5-year survival (up to 100%) has been reported for Stage Ia disease and the survival has significantly improved for Stage Ib, II, and III if appropriate re-operation is carried out soon after the incidental detection of gallbladder cancer. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is contraindicated in the presence of gallbladder cancer. It is recommended to excise all laparoscopic port sites, at the time of re-operation. Re-operation for Stage II gallbladder cancer is associated with a 90-100% 3-year survival rate. Patients with Stage III and IV tumors also benefit from an extended cholecystectomy. Patients with bulky primary tumors without lymph node metastases (T4N0) seem to have a better prognosis than those with distant lymph node metastases, and should be treated aggressively. It is advantageous to perform the appropriate extent of surgery for gallbladder cancer at the initial operation. Heightened awareness of the presence of cancer and the knowledge of appropriate management are important. For patients whose cancer is an incidental finding on pathologic review, re-resection is indicated for all disease except Stage Ia. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy have not been found effective as an adjuvant or palliative therapy in gallbladder cancer.

Evidence-based gallbladder cancer staging: changing cancer staging by analysis of data from the National Cancer Database

BACKGROUND

A recent revision of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging for gallbladder cancer (6th Edition) involved some major changes. Most notably, T2N0M0 tumors were moved from stage II to stage IB; T3N1M0 disease was moved from stage III to stage IIB; and T4NxM0 (x = any) tumors were moved from stage IVA to stage III.

METHODS

In order to determine if these changes were justified by data, an analysis of the 10,705 cases of gallbladder cancer collected between 1989 and 1996 in the NCDB was performed. All patients had >5 year follow-up.

RESULTS

The staging according to the 6th Edition provided no discrimination between stage III and IV. Five-year survivals for stage IIA, IIB, III, and IV (6th Edition) were 7%, 9%, 3%, 2% respectively. The data from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) were used to derive a proposed new staging system that builds upon Edition 5 and had improved discrimination of stage groups over previous editions.

CONCLUSIONS

Changes in staging systems should be justified by data. Multicenter databases, including the NCDB, represent important resources for verification of evidence-based staging systems.

Evaluation of gall bladder carcinoma with dynamic magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of dynamic MRI with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in the preoperative assessment of gall bladder carcinoma. Magnetic resonance imaging and MRCP were carried out in 15 patients with gall bladder carcinoma before surgery and the imaging findings correlated with surgical and pathological findings. Gall bladder carcinoma manifested as focal or diffuse wall thickening in 73% (11/15) and as a mass replacing the gall bladder in 27% (4/15). All tumours showed enhancement in the early phase, which persisted into the delayed phase. The sensitivity and specificity of MRI with MRCP in detecting hepatic invasion, lymph node metastasis and bile duct invasion was 87.5 and 86%, 60 and 90%, and 80 and 100%, respectively. Magnetic resonance imaging correctly diagnosed duodenal invasion in only 50% and in none of the two patients with peritoneal metastasis. In conclusion, dynamic MRI with MRCP is an accurate and a reliable method of showing gall bladder carcinoma and in assessing its local and regional extent as part of preoperative assessment.

Gallbladder cancer

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most common malignancy of the biliary tract and the fifth most common gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. In addition to global inter-country variations in incidence, large racial and ethnic variations have been noted within countries. High incidence rates of GBC have been described in North India, for example. Despite the fact that the precise etiology of GBC is poorly understood, a strong association between GBC and cholelithiasis exists. Most GBC presents clinically as advanced disease with unfavorable prognosis and poor response to treatment. A small but increasing proportion of cases of incidental GBC detected during or after cholecystectomy is also being seen. Such patients are generally in an earlier stage of disease and are potentially more curable by a completion radical cholecystectomy, which is especially indicated for patients whose disease is stage pT1b or beyond. Radical surgery is the mainstay of curative intent treatment for GBC. When feasible, extended or radical cholecystectomy is the standard treatment for resectable GBC. Patients with advanced stage III or IV disease may undergo more complex, high-risk, and morbid extended resections such as hepatopancreaticoduodenectomy. We believe that these procedures should be performed only in selected patients at centers specializing in these resections. Patients not fit for such major resection or found unresectable on imaging or exploration are usually offered palliative treatment. This may be in the form of surgical palliation (eg, palliative bypass for gastric outlet, bowel, or biliary tract obstruction), endoscopic biliary stenting (for obstructive jaundice), or palliative chemotherapy. Chemotherapy for GBC is generally used in the palliative setting. Gemcitabine, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin, and capecitabine are some of the effective agents. We have reported gratifying overall response rates of 55% with the combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients with advanced GBC. Patients with advanced GBC and jaundice who undergo stenting followed by chemotherapy show response and survival rates similar to those who present without jaundice.

Does laparoscopy worsen the prognosis for incidental gallbladder cancer?

BACKGROUND

More than 75% of cholecystectomies are done laparoscopically and less than one-third of gallbladder carcinomas are known presurgically. It is supposed that the laparoscopic technique could adversely affect the prognosis of gallbladder cancer.

METHODS

The C-A-E has started a register of all cases of cholecystectomy with a postoperative incidental finding of gallbladder carcinoma. The aim is to compare the prospectively collected follow-up data on the outcome of these patients and to answer the question of whether laparoscopic cholecystectomy affects the prognosis of incidental gallbladder cancer.

RESULTS

A total of 377 cases have been recorded so far. These include 201 patients treated by the laparoscopic procedure, 119 by an open procedure, and 57 by an intraoperative conversion. The survival shows a significantly better life expectancy for the patients treated laparoscopically.

CONCLUSION

The life expectancy is higher for the laparoscopically treated patients and this cannot be explained by the fact that the laparoscopic technique is used to treat the earlier stages of cancer. The access technique does not seem to influence the prognosis for gallbladder carcinomas.

Does laparoscopy worsen the prognosis for incidental gallbladder cancer?

BACKGROUND

More than 75% of cholecystectomies are done laparoscopically and less than one-third of gallbladder carcinomas are known presurgically. It is supposed that the laparoscopic technique could adversely affect the prognosis of gallbladder cancer.

METHODS

The C-A-E has started a register of all cases of cholecystectomy with a postoperative incidental finding of gallbladder carcinoma. The aim is to compare the prospectively collected follow-up data on the outcome of these patients and to answer the question of whether laparoscopic cholecystectomy affects the prognosis of incidental gallbladder cancer.

RESULTS

A total of 377 cases have been recorded so far. These include 201 patients treated by the laparoscopic procedure, 119 by an open procedure, and 57 by an intraoperative conversion. The survival shows a significantly better life expectancy for the patients treated laparoscopically.

CONCLUSION

The life expectancy is higher for the laparoscopically treated patients and this cannot be explained by the fact that the laparoscopic technique is used to treat the earlier stages of cancer. The access technique does not seem to influence the prognosis for gallbladder carcinomas.

Aggressive surgical resection for carcinoma of gallbladder

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study was to review the long-term result of patients with carcinoma of gallbladder with adequate investigations and aggressive surgical resection.

METHODS

A retrospective study was carried out on patients with carcinoma of gallbladder treated at the Division of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, the Chinese University of Hong Kong from January 1997 to December 2002.

RESULTS

Of the 47 patients with carcinoma of gallbladder, 28 patients were treated symptomatically because they were found to have metastatic disease (n = 22), unresectable disease (n = 2) or poor associated medical disease (n = 4). One patient had carcinoma in-situ after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. No further treatment was considered necessary. The remaining 18 patients (38.3%) came to laparotomy after preoperative investigations with ultrasonography, computed tomography, endoscopic or percutaneous cholangiography, and visceral angiography. Laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasound were used in the later part of the study. Radical cholecystectomy was carried out in 14 patients (77.8%). The in-hospital mortality rate was 5.3% and the surgical morbidity was 31.6%. The remaining four patients underwent palliative cholecystectomy because of the extent of the disease. The overall 5-year survival for the 47 patients was 19.1%, for the 18 patients who came to laparotomy was 44.4%, and for the 14 patients who underwent resection with curative intent was 57.1%.

CONCLUSIONS

With adequate preoperative investigations, and the use of laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasound, radical resection was possible in the majority of patients who came to laparotomy for carcinoma of gallbladder. Aggressive radical resection gave good results.

Long-term Survival of Patients with Gallbladder Cancer Detected during or after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Little evidence is available regarding long-term survival of patients with gallbladder cancer that is discovered at the time of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Therefore the present study was performed to evaluate long-term outcomes of this disease. Of 1546 patients who underwent LC for benign gallbladder disease between January 1992 and January 2002, 8 patients (0.5%) had cancers that were found during or after LC. The median follow-up period was 55 months (range: 36-142 months). The gallbladder was resected without perforation in all cases. During surgery there was a suspicion of malignancy in 6 of 8 cases. Frozen section analysis showed that 2 had TNM stage Tis tumors, 2 had T1a tumors, and 2 had T2 tumors. Two patients with T2 tumors were immediately converted to extended cholecystectomy. The final pathology revealed another 2 tumors, and demonstrated that 3 patients had Tis tumors, 3 had T1a tumors, and 2 had T2N0M0 tumors. None of the patients underwent additional surgery. All patients survived with no evidence of recurrence during the median follow-up of 55 months. In conclusion, before and during LC, we have not overlooked T2 or more advanced tumor, which requires additional procedures for curative resection. This might result in good survival. We consider that an intensive preoperative work-up and meticulous inspection of the opened gallbladder should be mandatory to detect gallbladder cancer in patients who undergo LC. At present, this is not routinely practiced.

Prediction of prognosis in gallbladder carcinoma by mucin and p53 immunohistochemistry

Mucin core proteins are known to be present in various organs and are specifically expressed with carcinogenesis and closely associated with the prognoses of various malignant tumors in the digestive tract such as colorectal cancer. The present study evaluated correlations between mucin and p53 expression and prognosis of gallbladder cancer using surgically resected tissue specimens from 26 patients with gallbladder carcinoma surgically treated at our hospital. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using MUC 1, MUC2, and p53 monoclonal antibody. The level of antigen expression in the lesion was classified into four stages: none(-), slight(+), moderate (++), and severe (+ + +). According to the UICC classification, histopathological grading, levels of T, N, and M factors, and tumor stages were compared with regard to the correlations with mucin and p53 expression. All cases were classified into two groups according to the results of mucin immunohistochemistry: group A (MUC1, > or = ++; and MUC2, < or = +) and group B (MUC1, < ++; or MUC2, > +). Postoperative survival periods were compared between the two groups and p53-positive and -negative groups. Neither histological grading nor T factor correlated with mucin or p53 expression, respectively. Moreover, neither N factor nor M factor correlated with mucin or p53 expression. Furthermore, stage grouping did not correlate with mucin or p53 expression. However, when the correlation between the postoperative survival period and mucin expression was evaluated, the mean postoperative surgical period was significantly shorter in Group A than in Group B (1.02 years in Group A vs 2.92 years in Group B; P = 0.016). There was no relationship between postoperative survival period and p53 positivity. Mucin expression was independent of various tumor growth factors and clearly reflected the prognosis of gallbladder cancer. Because the relative malignancy of gallbladder cancer could be evaluated by examining the level of glycoprotein expression in tumor tissue, mucin could be a more important marker than p53 for predicting prognosis in gallbladder carcinoma using surgically resected tissue specimens.

Biliary tract cancers: current concepts and controversies

Biliary tract cancer, which consists of gall bladder cancer and cholangio-carcinoma, presents many challenges to practising physicians. It is a relatively rare cancer that often causes a diagnostic dilemma, as its presentation may be similar to that of non-malignant conditions. In many cases, histological or cytological confirmation of a cancer diagnosis is not possible preoperatively. The management of this disease is also complex due to a morbid patient population and limited data on the optimal therapeutic approach. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment, although the extent of resection required is still debated. The role of adjuvant therapy is also controversial, but a combined modality approach appears to be beneficial in patients with a high risk of recurrence, such as those with node positive tumors or positive resection margins. When surgery is not possible, the prognosis of patients with biliary tract cancer is very poor. In unresectable patients, the combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy can result in a prolonged survival for some patients. In the palliative setting, biliary stenting and other supportive measures can alleviate symptoms and improve survival. Gemcitabine-based combination chemotherapy may also provide successful palliation and has achieved response rates of approximately 30% and a median survival of > 15 months in one study. Ultimately, treatment decisions should be individualised and participation in clinical trials is encouraged. Further progress in the management of biliary tract cancer is anticipated using biological therapies and continued research is essential to discover the optimal treatment for this challenging disease.

The surgical management of incidental gallbladder carcinoma

AIMS

To report the surgical management of carcinoma of the gallbladder.

METHODS

A retrospective study in 65 patients who underwent simple (SC) or extended (EC) cholecystectomy for gallbladder carcinoma.

RESULTS

28 patients underwent extended cholecystectomy (EC) and 37 had simple cholecystectomy (SC). The multivariate analysis showed that lymph-node status (positive vs negative, p=0.001, Hazard Ratio [HR]:14.2, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]:3.1-62.8) and type of surgery (SC vs EC, p=0.01, HR:10.2, 95% CI:1.7-62.8) were the most important prognostic factors related to death. This analysis indicated that EC in those with pT(2) or pT(3) was associated with a reduce hazard of death by 90% in the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

In gallbladder cancer patients who diagnose after simple cholecystectomy, those with pT(1) with clear margins need no further surgery. In patients with pT(2) or pT(3) incidental carcinoma, the completion radical re-operation is the only chance for long-term survival.