Role of caudate lobectomy in type III A and III B hilar cholangiocarcinoma: a 15-year experience in a tertiary institution

Improved Outcomes Following Resection of Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma: A 27-Year Experience

BACKGROUND

Resection of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) is associated with significant perioperative morbidity and mortality. We sought to evaluate surgical outcomes following resection of pCCA over time.

METHODS

Patients who underwent curative-intent resection with hepatectomy for pCCA at a single institution were divided into two cohorts based on date of resection: past cohort (1996-2013), and recent cohort (2014-2023).

RESULTS

The study included 100 patients: 55 (55%) in the past (1996-2013) and 45 (45%) in the recent (2014-2023) cohorts. There were no differences between cohorts in age, sex, or Bismuth-Corlette classification between the two cohorts. Preoperative cholangitis was less common in the recent cohort (31% vs. 53%, p = 0.03). The proportions of right and left hepatectomies were similar in both cohorts. However, for patients with Bismuth-Corlette types I, II, and IV tumors (n = 35), left hepatectomy was more frequently performed in the recent cohort (61% vs. 13%, p = 0.005). There were trends toward lower rates of major complications (38% vs. 55%, p = 0.095) in the recent cohort. There was significantly less perioperative mortality (2% vs. 15%, p = 0.039) and no postoperative hepatic insufficiency in the recent cohort (0% vs. 20%, p = 0.001). Median recurrence-free survival was similar in the past and recent cohorts (29 vs. 37 months, respectively; p = 0.560), but median overall survival was improved in the recent cohort (33 months vs. not reached, p = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative management to reduce preoperative cholangitis and liver insufficiency, advances in surgical technique, and consideration of left-sided hepatic resection have resulted in significantly improved outcomes in patients undergoing hepatectomy for pCCA.

Short-term and Long-term Clinical Outcomes of Combined Caudate Lobectomy for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Involving the Hepatic Hilus: A Propensity Score Analysis

Background/Aims

Extended hepatectomy combined with caudate lobe resection has been approved for the radical resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. There was a lack of credible research on the clinical value of caudate lobectomy (CL) for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma involving the hepatic hilus when combined with hepatectomy. We aimed to compare the short-term and long-term outcomes of the combined procedure with those of only CL for curative resection of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma involving the hepatic hilus.

Methods

This single-center retrospective cohort study of patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma was conducted from January 2007 to December 2021. Patients who underwent radical resection were enrolled in this study. The short-term and long-term clinical outcomes of the groups were compared before and after propensity score matching (PSM).

Results

A total of 282 patients were included. There were no statistically significant differences in perioperative clinical outcomes between the CL group and the non-CL group before and after PSM. Compared to patients in the non-CL group, patients in the CL group had significantly longer overall survival before and after PSM (p=0.007 before PSM, p=0.033 after PSM). Moreover, compared to the non-CL group, the CL group had longer disease-free survival before and after PSM (p<0.001 before PSM, p=0.019 after PSM).

Conclusions

The postoperative complications of the CL group were comparable to those of the non-CL group. CL improved the long-term survival of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma involving the hepatic hilus when combined with hepatectomy. Therefore, hepatectomy combined with caudate lobe resection should be performed for patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Does caudate lobe resection really improve the surgical outcomes of patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma? A multicenter retrospective study

In the field of hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) treatment, the value of caudate lobe resection (CLR) has not been fully elucidated. Most scholars advocate that the caudate lobe should be routinely resected. To further investigate this issue, this study aims to evaluate the impact of CLR on surgical outcomes of HCCA patients who are judged to have no obvious tumor invasion in the caudate lobe. A retrospective analysis was performed on Bismuth type II, III, or IV HCCA patients who underwent radical resection between October 2005 and April 2023 at three Chinese medical centers. Patients were divided into the CLR group and the no caudate lobe resection (No-CLR) group according to whether CLR was performed or not. Baseline and tumor characteristics as well as perioperative outcomes were compared between the two groups using propensity score matching (PSM). A total of 397 HCCA patients underwent radical resection and there were 146 patients in each group after PSM. After PSM, the mortality was similar between the two groups. However, patients in the CLR group had a higher incidence of postoperative ascites (43.8% vs 30.1%, P=0.021), liver failure (15.8% vs 6.2%, P=0.014) and intra-abdominal infection (19.2% vs 8.2%, P=0.010). The R0 rate in the CLR group was significantly higher than that in the No-CLR group (88.4% vs 76.0%, P=0.009). Nevertheless, patients undergoing CLR did not show any improvement in overall survival (OS) or recurrence-free survival (RFS). Multivariate analysis showed that CLR was not associated with improved long-term surgical outcomes. The high level of CA19-9 and lower tumor differentiation were associated with worse OS, and adjuvant therapy can significantly improve OS. Lower tumor differentiation and N2 were associated with worse RFS. In summary, there is not yet sufficient evidence to support the routine resection of the caudate lobe during surgery for HCCA. For patients without obvious tumor invasion in the caudate lobe, resection of the lobe should be carefully weighed for its benefits and risks.

Surgical management, including the role of transplantation, for intrahepatic and peri-hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Intrahepatic and peri-hilar cholangiocarcinoma are life threatening disease with poor outcomes despite optimal treatment currently available (5-year overall survival following resection 20-35%, and <10% cured at 10-years post resection). The insidious onset makes diagnosis difficult, the majority do not have a resection option and the high recurrence rate post-resection suggests that occult metastatic disease is frequently present. Advances in perioperative management, such as ipsilateral portal vein (and hepatic vein) embolisation methods to increase the future liver remnant volume, genomic profiling, and (neo)adjuvant therapies demonstrate great potential in improving outcomes. However multiple areas of controversy exist. Surgical resection rate and outcomes vary between centres with no global consensus on how 'resectable' disease is defined - molecular profiling and genomic analysis could potentially identify patients unlikely to benefit from resection or likely to benefit from targeted therapies. FDG-PET scanning has also improved the ability to detect metastatic disease preoperatively and avoid futile resection. However tumours frequently invade major vasculo-biliary structures, with resection and reconstruction associated with significant morbidity and mortality even in specialist centres. Liver transplantation has been investigated for very selected patients for the last decade and yet the selection algorithm, surgical approach and both value of both neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies remain to be clarified. In this review, we discuss the contemporary management of intrahepatic and peri-hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Postoperative factors predicting outcomes in patients with Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma undergoing curative resection-a 10-year single-center experience

BACKGROUND

Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) has a 5-year overall survival (OS) ranging from 10-40%, following resection. However, prognostic models for postoperative outcomes are limited by long study timespan and variations in work-up. We investigated postoperative outcomes in patients resected for pCCA in a high-volume center with standardized work-up.

METHOD

Patients resected with confirmed pCCA, between 2013 and 2023, were included. Cox-regression investigated association between postoperative factors and OS as well as disease-free survival (DFS).

RESULTS

Totally, 65 patients were resected for pCCA. The 1-, 3- and 5-year OS rates were 86.1%, 56.5% and 32.6% respectively. The 1-, 3- and 5-year DFS rates were 67.7%, 40.0% and 26.8%, respectively. Portal vein embolization (PVE) (HR 4.52 [CI 1.66-12.27], p = 0.003), lymph node metastasis (LNM) (HR 6.37 [CI 2.06-19.67], p = 0.001) and Clavien-Dindo (CD) ≥3a (HR 2.83 [CI 1.43-5.56], p = 0.002) were associated with inferior OS. Clavien-Dindo (CD) ≥3a (HR 2.10 [CI 1.05-4.22], p = 0.03) and T-stage >2 (HR 2.36 [CI 1.01, 5.05], p = 0.04) were associated with inferior and superior DFS, respectively.

CONCLUSION

PVE, T-stage >2, LNM and CD ≥ III were associated with worse prognosis in resected pCCA. Research is needed to improve pre-operative detection of oncological features and patients with risk of major surgical complications.

Pattern and extent of intrahepatic infiltration of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma - a case-control study based on liver panoramic digital pathology

BACKGROUND

The extent of intrahepatic infiltration of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHCC) remains unclear. This research aimed to explore the pattern and extent of intrahepatic infiltration of PHCC to guide surgical treatment and pathological research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study included 62 patients diagnosed with PHCC who underwent major hepatectomy. A whole-mount digital liver pathology system (WDLPS) for hepatectomy specimens greater than 10×10 cm was used to panoramically assess the intrahepatic infiltration extent of PHCC.

RESULTS

The distal intrahepatic infiltration (DIHI) and radial liver invasion (RLI) were important parts of intrahepatic infiltration for PHCC explored by WDLPS. The study confirmed that 75.8% of PHCCs had RLI and the infiltration distance in all patients were within 15 000 µm, 62.9% of PHCCs had DIHI greater than 1 cm away from the main tumor in the liver parenchyma. The recurrence-free survival rates and overall survival rates of patients with DIHI were poorer than the patients without DIHI ( P <0.0001, P =0.0038). Arterial invasion on the resected side could be an excellent predictor. A total of 105 liver lobes were resected from 62 PHCC patients. The invasion rates of the left lateral, left medial, right anterior, and right posterior lobe of PHCC were 79%, 100%, 100%, and 69%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The presence of DIHI in most PHCCs was a significant factor for the poor survival. Based on the extent of intrahepatic infiltration, minor hepatectomy was not suitable as the curative surgery for PHCC. Major hepatectomy and liver transplantation were the ideal radical treatment.

Practice guidelines for managing extrahepatic biliary tract cancers

Backgrounds/Aims

Reported incidence of extrahepatic bile duct cancer is higher in Asians than in Western populations. Korea, in particular, is one of the countries with the highest incidence rates of extrahepatic bile duct cancer in the world. Although research and innovative therapeutic modalities for extrahepatic bile duct cancer are emerging, clinical guidelines are currently unavailable in Korea. The Korean Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery in collaboration with related societies (Korean Pancreatic and Biliary Surgery Society, Korean Society of Abdominal Radiology, Korean Society of Medical Oncology, Korean Society of Radiation Oncology, Korean Society of Pathologists, and Korean Society of Nuclear Medicine) decided to establish clinical guideline for extrahepatic bile duct cancer in June 2021.

Methods

Contents of the guidelines were developed through subgroup meetings for each key question and a preliminary draft was finalized through a Clinical Guidelines Committee workshop.

Results

In November 2021, the finalized draft was presented for public scrutiny during a formal hearing.

Conclusions

The extrahepatic guideline committee believed that this guideline could be helpful in the treatment of patients.

A comprehensive study and extensive review of the Caudate lobe: The last piece of "Jigsaw" puzzle

Many liver surgeons have updated their understanding of the liver in recent years because of detailed studies on the liver anatomy and the rapid advances in laparoscopic liver surgery. Despite newer approaches, concepts and methods, research on the caudate lobe continues to be based on case reports and several persistent challenges concerning caudate lobe surgery that are worth discussing. Based on the literature and the author's experience, this study considers and addresses the challenges associated with caudate lobectomy encountered by most liver surgeons. We searched PubMed for relevant articles in English for 'caudate lobe', 'cholangiocellular carcinoma', 'laparoscopic caudate resection', 'right-side boundary of the caudate lobe' and 'assessment of hepatic functional reserve' published up to May 2022. This study reviewed the anatomical history of the caudate lobe, focusing on the challenges associated with caudate lobe-related surgical resection. Due to the unique anatomical position of the caudate lobe, surgical strategy for caudate lobe resection is particularly important, and the technical requirements for hepatobiliary surgeons are also extremely strict. Therefore, understanding the anatomical history of the caudate lobe and discussing the challenges associated with caudate lobectomy is essential.

Comparison of Efficacy and Safety Between Laparoscopic and Open Radical Resection for Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma-A Propensity Score-Matching Analysis

BACKGROUND

Radical resection remains the most effective treatment for hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA). However, due to the complex anatomy of the hilar region, the tumor is prone to invade portal vein and hepatic arteries, making the surgical treatment of HCCA particularly difficult. Successful laparoscopic radical resection of HCCA(IIIA, IIIB) requires excellent surgical skills and rich experience. Furthermore, the safety and effectiveness of this operation are still controversial.

AIM

To retrospectively analyze and compare the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic and open surgery for patients with HCCA.

METHODS

Clinical imaging and postoperative pathological data of 89 patients diagnosed with HCCA (IIIA, IIIB) and undergoing radical resection in our center from January 2018 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 6 patients (4 were lost to follow-up and 2 were pathologically confirmed to have other diseases after surgery) were ruled out, and clinical data was collected from the remaining 83 patients for statistical analysis. These patients were divided into an open surgery group (n=62) and a laparoscopic surgery group (n=21) according to the surgical methods used, and after 1:2 propensity score matching (PSM), 32 and 16 patients respectively in the open surgery group and laparoscopic surgery group were remained. The demographic data, Bismuth type, perioperative data, intraoperative data, postoperative complications, pathological findings, and long-term survivals were compared between these two groups.

RESULTS

After 1:2 PSM, 32 patients in the open surgery group and 16 patients in the laparoscopic surgery group were included for further analysis. Baseline characteristics and pathological outcomes were comparable between the two groups. Statistically significant differences between the two groups were observed in intraoperative blood loss and operative time, as it were 400-800 mL vs 200-400 mL (P=0.012) and (407.97 ± 76.06) min vs (489.69 ± 79.17) min (P=0.001) in the open surgery group and laparoscopic surgery group, respectively. The R0 resection rate of the open group was 28 cases (87.5%), and the R0 resection rate of the laparoscopic group was 15 cases (93.75%). The two groups showed no significant difference in terms of surgical approach, intraoperative blood transfusion, incidence of postoperative complications, and short- and long-term efficacy (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic radical resection of HCCA has comparable perioperative safety compared to open surgery group, as it has less bleeding and shorter operation time. Although it is a promising procedure with the improvement of surgical skills and further accumulation of experience, further investigations are warranted before its wider application.

Patterns of Caudate Lobe Invasion of Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma: A Panoramic Histologic Study of Liver

BACKGROUND

At present, caudate lobectomy (CL) in hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) was controversial. Our study was designed to investigate the features of caudate lobe invasion (CLI) by whole-mount histologic large sections (WHLS).

METHODS

A total of 46 HCCA patients underwent hemihepatectomy or trisectionectomy combined with CL were included. Serial WHLS (120 mm × 100 mm) were collected, and the relationship between caudate lobe and tumor was retained to determine the incidence of CLI. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining were completed to further explore the pathway of CLI.

RESULTS

The whole region of the Glisson system in caudate lobe and hilar area can be clearly displayed by WHLS, and 32 (32/46 69.6%) patients were identified with CLI. There were three different pathways of CLI with panoramic IHC staining. The most common pathway is through the fibrous connective tissue along Glisson system (20/32 62.5%, without carcinoma in bile ducts). The Bismuth type, tumor size, vascular invasion, pathological type, and hepatic invasion were related to the CLI (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence and distribution of CLI provided histologic evidence for CL in HCCA. Based on the invasion pathway, it is necessary to assess the fibrous connective tissue in Glisson system of caudate lobe in pathological research and practice.

Does Caudate Resection Improve Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Curative Resection for Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Margin-negative (R0) resection is the strongest positive prognostic factor in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC). Due to its anatomic location, the caudate lobe is frequently involved in PHC. This review aimed to examine the impact of caudate lobe resection (CLR) in addition to hepatectomy and bile duct resection for patients with PHC.

METHODS

The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were systematically reviewed from inception to October 2021 to identify studies comparing patients undergoing surgical resection with hepatectomy and bile duct resection with or without CLR for treatment of PHC. Outcomes included the proportion of patients achieving R0 resection, overall survival (OS), and perioperative morbidity.

RESULTS

Altogether, 949 studies were screened. The review included eight observational studies reporting on 1137 patients. The patients who underwent CLR had a higher likelihood of R0 resection (odds ratio [OR], 5.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.64-12.95) and a better OS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.65; 95% CI, 0.54-0.79) than those who did not. The use of CLR did not increase the risk of perioperative morbidity (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.65-1.63).

CONCLUSIONS

Given the higher likelihood of R0 resection, improved OS, and no apparent increase in perioperative morbidity, this review supports routine caudate lobectomy in the surgical management of PHC. These results should be interpreted with caution given the lack of high-quality prospective data and the high probability of selection bias.

Evaluation of Four Lymph Node Classifications for the Prediction of Survival in Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

An important prognostic indicator of hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) in patients after surgery is metastasis of lymph nodes (LN). However, there are many types of LN staging systems to the issue of a better determination of the prognosis of patients through the lymphatic staging system which needs research. Based on the above, we tried to re-evaluate the staging system of HCCA LNs. We compared the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), number of metastatic LNs (MLN), ratio of LN (LNR), and log odds of MLNs (LODDS) in individuals undergoing curative resection to determine the best LN staging system.

METHODS

In the current study, we retrospectively analyzed 229 patients undergoing curative resection. We evaluated the impact of the stage of AJCC pN, LNR, LODDS, and MLN on OS (overall survival) and RFS (recurrence-free survival). According to the curve of receiver operating characteristic (ROC), we compared the predictive capacity of different staging systems of LN for survival and recurrence.

RESULTS

Multivariate analysis results revealed that LODDS >  - 0.45 (95% CI = 1.115-2.709, P = 0.015; 95% CI = 1.187-2.780, P = 0.006) are independent risk factors affecting OS and RFS, respectively. Compared with LN status, AJCC pN stage, MLN, and LNR, the variable having the highest area under the ROC curve (AUC) was LODDS when predicting 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS and RFS.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that metastasis of LNs is a key indicator for predicting patient death and recurrence. Among them, LODDS is the best LN staging system for the prognostic evaluation of HCCA patients after surgery. Clinicians can incorporate LODDS into HCCA patient lymphatic staging system for a more accurate prognosis of HCCA patients post-surgery.

The value of lymphadenectomy in surgical resection of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Surgical resection is the only potentially curative treatment for patients with resectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC). There is still no consensus on the value of lymphadenectomy despite evidence indicating lymph node (LN) status is an important prognostic indicator for postoperative long-term survival. We sought to perform a meta-analysis to summarize the current evidence on the value of lymphadenectomy among patients undergoing surgery for PHC. The PubMed (OvidSP), Embase and Cochrane Library were systematically searched for studies published before July 2020 that reported on lymphadenectomy at the time of surgery for PHC after curative surgery. 7748 patients from 28 studies were included in the meta-analysis. No survival benefit was identified with increased number of LN resected (all P > 0.05). Meanwhile, overall LN status was an important prognostic factor. Patients with lymph node metastasis had a pooled estimate hazard ratio of death that was over two-fold higher than patients without lymph node metastasis (HR 2.07, 95% CI 1.65-2.59, P < 0.001). The examination of 5 LNs on histology was associated with better staging of lymph node status and stratification of patients into positive or negative LN groups. While the extent of LN dissection was not associated with a survival benefit, examination of more than 5 LNs better staged patients into positive or negative LN groups with a lower risk of nodal understaging.

Dilemma of the differential diagnosis of hilar cholangiocarcinoma and benign diseases: a single-center retrospective study

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA), which lacks specific clinical manifestations, remains very difficult to distinguish from benign disease. This distinction is further complicated by the complex hilar anatomy. We conducted the present study to evaluate the differential diagnosis of these conditions. Sixty-five patients underwent resection surgery for suspected HCCA between January 2011 and October 2018. Institutional Review Board of Shengjing hospital agreed this study and all participants sign an informed consent document prior to participation in a research study. Following a postoperative pathology analysis, all patients were divided into two groups: malignant group (54 patients with HCCA) and benign group (11 cases with benign lesions). Compared with the benign group, the malignant group had a significantly higher median age and serum CA19-9, CEA, ALT, BILT and BILD levels (P < 0.05). In contrast, the groups did not differ significantly in terms of the sex distribution, clinical manifestations, serum levels of AST and ALKP, and imaging findings. In a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, we identified a CA19-9 cutoff point of 233.15 U/ml for the differential diagnosis and CEA cutoff point of 2.98 ng/ml for the differential diagnosis. The differential diagnosis of HCCA and benign hilar lesions remains difficult. However, we found that patients with HCCA tended to have an older age at onset and higher serum levels of CA19-9, CEA, BILT, ALT and BILD. Furthermore, patients with a serum CA19-9 level >233.15 U/ml and CEA level >2.98 ng/ml are more likely to have malignant disease.

Systematic review of perioperative and oncologic outcomes of minimally-invasive surgery for hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Most surgeons have traditionally been reluctant toward minimally-invasive surgery for bile duct tumors. This study aimed to perform a systematic literature review on perioperative and oncologic results of pure laparoscopic and robotic curative-intent surgery for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. According to the PRISMA statement, a systematic review was conducted into Pubmed, EMBASE and Cochrane. A critical appraisal of study was performed according to the Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Nineteen studies (12 on pure laparoscopy and 7 on robotics) were included: 7 case reports, 9 case series, 3 case-control (193 patients). The pooled conversion, morbidity, biliary leak and mortality rates were 5.5%, 43%, 16.4% and 4%. The weighted mean of operative time, blood loss and postoperative stay were 388 min, 446 mL and 14 days. For pure laparoscopy, the pooled R0 rate was 86%; overall survival and disease-free survival rates ranged from 85 to 100% and from 80 to 100% (median observation time 6-18 months). For robotic surgeries, the pooled R0 rate was 69% and overall survival rates ranged from 90 to 100% (median observation time 5-15 months). Case reports were overall of high quality, case series of moderate / high-quality, case-control studies ranged from low to high quality. In selected patients, minimally-invasive surgery for Klatskin tumors appears feasible, safe, satisfactory for perioperative outcomes and adequate for oncologic results. However, the results are based on few studies, limited in patient numbers and with allocation criteria more restrictive than open, reporting short follow-up and mainly with non-comparative design: evidence of higher quality is recommended.

The value of caudate lobectomy in hilar cholangiocarcinoma treatment: A meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To discuss the value of caudate lobectomy in hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) treatment.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed in PubMed, MEDLINE database, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library for trials comparing combined caudate lobectomy with controls from January 1, 1990 to December 2, 2020. The outcomes were postoperative radical cure information, survival condition, morbidity, and mortality.

RESULT

Ten studies were included. No difference was observed in the morbidity (odd ratio (OR) 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65-1.33) and mortality (OR 1.16, 95% CI 0.55-2.42) between the combined caudate lobectomy and control groups. Hepatectomy combined with caudate lobectomy was associated with higher incidence of radical resection (OR 3.88, 95% CI 2.18-6.90) and longer survival (hazard ratio 0.45, 95% CI 0.38-0.55).

CONCLUSION

Combining caudate lobectomy can significantly increase the incidence of radical resection of HCCA and the postoperative survival time. The morbidity and mortality were not increased after the operation. Thus, caudate lobectomy should be included when performing partial hepatectomy for HCCA.

Practical review for diagnosis and clinical management of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCC) is the most aggressive malignant tumor of the biliary tract. Perihilar CCC (pCCC) is the most common CCC and is burdened by a complicated diagnostic iter and its anatomical location makes surgical approach burden by poor results. Besides its clinical presentation, a multimodal diagnostic approach should be carried on by a tertiary specialized center to avoid miss-diagnosis. Preoperative staging must consider the extent of liver resection to avoid post-surgical hepatic failure. During staging iter, magnetic resonance can obtain satisfactory cholangiographic images, while invasive techniques should be used if bile duct samples are needed. Consistently, to improve diagnostic potential, bile duct drainage is not necessary in jaundice, while it is indicated in refractory cholangitis or when liver hypertrophy is needed. Once resecability criteria are identified, the extent of liver resection is secondary to the longitudinal spread of CCC. While in the past type IV pCCC was not considered resectable, some authors reported good results after their treatment. Conversely, in selected unresectable cases, liver transplantation could be a valuable option. Adjuvant chemotherapy is the standard of care for resected patients, while neoadjuvant approach has growing evidences. If curative resection is not achieved, radiotherapy can be added to chemotherapy. This multistep curative iter must be carried on in specialized centers. Hence, the aim of this review is to highlight the main steps and pitfalls of the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to pCCC with a peculiar attention to type IV pCCC.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of caudate lobectomy for treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Surgical resection remains the only potentially curative therapy for hilar cholangiocarcinoma (CCC) patients. This meta-analysis aimed to review the current evidence on perioperative and long-term outcomes of routine caudate lobe resection (CLR) for surgical treatment of hilar CCC.

METHODS

A systematic literature search using MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane databases was performed for studies providing comparative data on perioperative and long-term outcomes of patients undergoing resection for hilar CCC with and without CLR. The MINORS score was used for quality assessment. For time-to-event outcomes hazard ratios (HRs) and associated 95% CI were extracted from identified studies, whereas risk ratios (RRs) were calculated for overall morbidity, mortality, and resection margin status. Meta-analyses were carried out using random-effects models.

RESULTS

Eight studies involving 1350 patients met the inclusion criteria. The quality of the included studies was low to moderate. CLR resulted in significantly improved overall survival (HR 0.49; 95%CI 0.32-0.75, P < 0.01). Postoperative morbidity (RR 0.93; 95% CI 0.77-1.13; P = 0.48) and mortality (RR 1.01; 95% CI 0.42-2.41; P = 0.99) rates were comparable between both groups. Patients without concomitant CLR were at higher risk for residual tumor at the resection margin (RR 1.40; 95% CI 1.09-1.80; P = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

CLR is associated with improved long-term survival and negative tumor margins after resection of hilar CCC with no adverse impact on perioperative outcomes. CLR might provide the potential to become a standard-of-care procedure in the surgical management of hilar CCC.

Resection of the caudate lobe for the treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Whether the resection of the caudate lobe, in association with major hepatectomy, improves outcomes in hilar cholangiocarcinoma is controversial.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

We performed a systematic literature review on all studies published from June 1979 to September 2016. Inclusion criteria for eligibility were the presence of parallel-groups of patients treated with major hepatectomy with either caudate lobe resection (CLR), or not (NCLR), in adult population, reporting data on overall survival (OS). We ran out a random-effect meta-analysis for survival data.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Six retrospective studies with 969 patients (643 CLR and 326 NCLR) were included. The probability of death was significantly lower in CLR group than in NCLR group (HR 0.65; 95% CI: 0.44-0.97; P=0.035). The median survival time was in favor of CLR (WMD 3.46; 95% CI: 1.02-5.90, P=0.005]. Patients who underwent CLR were more likely to receive a R0 resection than those who did not (OR 8.26; 95% CI: 2.45-27.87; P=0.001). No moderator effects were detected at meta-regression for operative time, postoperative complication rate and pathologic findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the paucity of data and the retrospective nature of the included studies, our results suggest that major hepatectomy plus caudate lobe resection may improve the likelihood of R0 resection and the overall survival in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Morbidity and mortality after major liver resection in patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Morbidity and mortality after hepatectomy for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma are known to be high. However, reported postoperative outcomes vary, with notable differences between Western and Asian series. We aimed to determine morbidity and mortality rates after major hepatectomy in patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma and assess differences in outcome regarding geographic location and hospital volume.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed by searching the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases through November 20, 2017. Risk of bias was assessed and meta-analysis and metaregression were performed using a random effects model.

RESULTS

A total of 51 studies were included, representing 4,634 patients. Pooled 30-day and 90-day mortality were 5% (95% CI 3%-6%) and 9% (95% CI 6%-12%), respectively. Pooled overall morbidity and severe morbidity were 57% (95% CI 50%-64%) and 40% (95% CI 34%-47%), respectively. Western studies compared with Asian studies had a significantly higher 30-day mortality, 90-day mortality, and overall morbidity: 8% versus 2% (P < .001), 12% versus 3% (P < .001), and 63% versus 54% (P = .048), respectively. This effect on mortality remained significant after correcting for hospital volume. Univariate metaregression analysis showed no influence of hospital volume on mortality or morbidity, but when corrected for geographic location, higher hospital volume was associated with higher severe morbidity (P = .039).

CONCLUSION

Morbidity and mortality rates after major hepatectomy for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma are high. The Western series showed a higher mortality compared with the Asian series, even when corrected for hospital volume. Standardized reporting of outcomes is necessary. Underlying causes for differences in outcomes between Asian and Western centers, such as differences in treatment strategies, should be further analyzed.

Extending resectability of hilar cholangiocarcinomas: how can it be assessed and improved?

Until the 1980's, Klatskin tumors were considered 'desperate cases' and most of them were not resected; almost no oncologic concept was available. After many improvements, today, extended hepatectomy, including caudate lobe resection and lymphoadenectomy, have become a standard of care for oncologicaly radical resection of Klatskin tumors. Portal vein en bloc resection, if necessary, is a diffused standard assuring R0-resection without any improvement of survival in most series. Arterial resection remains episodical and controversial in its oncologic impact. Arterial resection-reconstruction was demonstrated to be feasible with many different technical possibilities. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, refinement of associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy and liver transplantations are some possible future resources for treatment of those aggressive tumors that could be able to expand the pool of treatable patients.

Defining Early Recurrence of Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma After Curative-intent Surgery: A Multi-institutional Study from the US Extrahepatic Biliary Malignancy Consortium

BACKGROUND

Time to tumor recurrence may be associated with outcomes following resection of hepatobiliary cancers. The objective of the current study was to investigate risk factors and prognosis among patients with early versus late recurrence of hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) after curative-intent resection.

METHODS

A total of 225 patients who underwent curative-intent resection for HCCA were identified from 10 academic centers in the USA. Data on clinicopathologic characteristics, pre-, intra-, and postoperative details and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. The slope of the curves identified by linear regression was used to categorize recurrences as early versus late.

RESULTS

With a median follow-up of 18.0 months, 99 (44.0%) patients experienced a tumor recurrence. According to the slope of the curves identified by linear regression, the functions of the two straight lines were y = -0.465x + 16.99 and y = -0.12x + 7.16. The intercept value of the two lines was 28.5 months, and therefore, 30 months (2.5 years) was defined as the cutoff to differentiate early from late recurrence. Among 99 patients who experienced recurrence, the majority (n = 80, 80.8%) occurred within the first 2.5 years (early recurrence), while 19.2% of recurrences occurred beyond 2.5 years (late recurrence). Early recurrence was more likely present as distant disease (75.1% vs. 31.6%, p = 0.001) and was associated with a worse OS (Median OS, early 21.5 vs. late 50.4 months, p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, poor tumor differentiation (HR 10.3, p = 0.021), microvascular invasion (HR 3.3, p = 0.037), perineural invasion (HR 3.9, p = 0.029), lymph node metastases (HR 5.0, p = 0.004), and microscopic positive margin (HR 3.5, p = 0.046) were independent risk factors associated with early recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Early recurrence of HCCA after curative resection was common (~35.6%). Early recurrence was strongly associated with aggressive tumor characteristics, increased risk of distant metastatic recurrence and a worse long-term survival.

The clinicopathological factors associated with prognosis of patients with resectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The refinement in surgical techniques combined with the preoperative management has improved the resectability rate of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA). However, the prognosis of pCCA with curative resection is still dismal. This meta-analysis was performed to investigate the prognostic clinicopathological factors in resectable pCCA.PubMed, the Cochran Library, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science were searched systematically to identify reports focusing on studying the prognostic clinicopathological factors in resectable pCCA. The hazard ratios (HRs) and its 95% confidence interval (95%CI) from the identified studies using Cox proportional hazard regression model were extracted for overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and disease-free survival (DFS) analysis.Three prospective and 35 retrospective cohort studies including 5681 resectable pCCA were included in the pooled analysis. Among more than 20 clinicopathological factors associated with negative survival of pCCA, only 6 were included in quantitative analysis which showed that lymph node involvement was associated with a reduced OS (HR = 2.04; 95%CI: 2.10-2.62), DSS (HR = 1.80; 95%CI: 1.39-2.34), DFS (HR = 4.38; 95%CI: 1.89-10.14), negative resection margin (HR = 2.04; 95%CI:1.73-2.41), operative transfusion (HR = 1.82; 95%CI: 1.06-3.11), and T3 or T4-stage (HR = 2.04; 95%CI: 2.04-2.53) were poor prognostic factors of OS, and poor or moderate differentiation was also an adverse prognostic factor of OS (HR = 2.71; 95%CI: 1.80-4.07) and DSS (HR = 1.74; 95%CI: 1.25-2.44). The overall median resectability rate (95CI%), R0 resection (95CI%), and 5-year OS (95CI%) in Eastern and Western countries were 74.9 (66.4-78.4) % and 41.3 (32.6-80.8) %, 70.7 (65.6-80.8) % and 75.9 (64.0-80.4) %, and 33.0 (29.7-39.7) % and 25.5 (20.0-31.6) %, respectively.Negative resection margin, lymph node involvement, poor or moderate differentiation grade was identified as the negative predictor factors of resectable pCCA. Operative transfusion and T3/T4 stage were also associated with a reduced survival of resectable pCCA.

Meta-analysis of prognostic factors for overall survival in patients with resected hilar cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma is staged using the AJCC staging system. Numerous other prognostically important histopathological and demographic characteristics have been reported. The objective of this meta-analysis was to assess statistically the effect of postresectional tumour characteristics on overall survival of patients undergoing attempted radical curative resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODS

Relevant studies were identified by searching the Ovid MEDLINE and PubMed databases. The search was limited to studies published between 2009 and 2017. Papers referring to intrahepatic or distal cholangiocarcinoma were excluded from review. Data extraction used standard Parmar modifications to determine pooled univariable hazard ratios (HRs).

RESULTS

Twenty-four articles, containing 4599 patients, were assessed quantitatively. In pooled analyses, age (HR 1·16, 95 per cent c.i. 1·04 to 1·28), T category (HR 1·49, 1·30 to 1·70), lymph node involvement (HR 1·78, 1·65 to 1·93), microvascular invasion (HR 1·49, 1·34 to 1·68), perineural invasion (HR 1·54, 1·40 to 1·68) and tumour differentiation (HR 1·54, 1·38 to 1·72) were significant prognostic factors, with low heterogeneity. Portal vein resection (HR 1·54, 1·15 to 1·70) and resection margin status (HR 1·77, 1·57 to 1·99) had significant effects, but with high heterogeneity. Sex, tumour size and preoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels did not have a statistically significant effect on postoperative prognosis.

CONCLUSION

Several tumour biological variables not included in the seventh edition of the AJCC classification affect overall survival. These require incorporation into prognostic models to ensure a personalized approach to prognostication and treatment.

Hepatic Artery Resection for Bismuth Type III and IV Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma: Is Reconstruction Always Required?

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study is to examine the feasibility of hepatic artery resection (HAR) without subsequent reconstruction (RCS) in specified patients of Bismuth type III and IV hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 63 patients who underwent hepatic artery resection for Bismuth type III and IV hilar cholangiocarcinoma. These patients were subsequently enrolled into two groups based on whether the artery reconstruction was conducted. Postoperative morbidity and mortality, and long-term survival outcome were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

There were 29 patients in HAR group and 34 patients in the HAR + RCS group. Patients with hepatic artery reconstruction tended to have longer operative time (545.6 ± 143.1 min vs. 656.3 ± 192.8 min; P = 0.013) and smaller tumor size (3.0 ± 1.1 cm vs. 2.5 ± 0.9 cm; P = 0.036). The R0 resection margin was comparable between the HAR group and HAR + RCS group (86.2 vs. 85.3%; P > 0.05). Twelve patients (41.4%) with 24 complications in HAR group and 13 patients (38.2%) with 25 complications in HAR + RCS group were recorded (P = 0.799). The postoperative hepatic failure rate (13.8 vs. 5.9%) and postoperative mortality rate (3.4% vs. 2.9%) were also comparable between the two groups. In the HAR group, the overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 72, 41, and 19%, respectively; while in the HAR + RCS group, the overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 79, 45, and 25%, respectively (P = 0.928).

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatic artery resection without reconstruction is also a safe and feasible surgical procedure for highly selected cases of Bismuth type III and IV hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

The impact of caudate lobe resection on margin status and outcomes in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma: a multi-institutional analysis from the US Extrahepatic Biliary Malignancy Consortium

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of caudate resection on margin status and outcomes during resection of extrahepatic hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODS

A database of 1,092 patients treated for biliary malignancies at institutions of the Extrahepatic Biliary Malignancy Consortium was queried for individuals undergoing curative-intent resection for extrahepatic hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Patients who did versus did not undergo concomitant caudate resection were compared with regard to demographic, baseline, and tumor characteristics as well as perioperative outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 241 patients underwent resection for a hilar cholangiocarcinoma, of whom 85 underwent caudate resection. Patients undergoing caudate resection were less likely to have a final positive margin (P = .01). Kaplan-Meier curve of overall survival for patients undergoing caudate resection indicated no improvement over patients not undergoing caudate resection (P = .16). On multivariable analysis, caudate resection was not associated with improved overall survival or recurrence-free survival, although lymph node positivity was associated with worse overall survival and recurrence-free survival, and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy was associated with improved overall survival and recurrence-free survival.

CONCLUSION

Caudate resection is associated with a greater likelihood of margin-negative resection in patients with extrahepatic hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Precise preoperative imaging is critical to assess the extent of biliary involvement, so that all degrees of hepatic resections are possible at the time of the initial operation.

Resection for Klatskin tumors: technical complexities and results

Klatskin's tumors, actually-redefined as perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (phCCA) do represent 50-70% of all CCAs and develop in a context of chronic inflammation and cholestasis of bile ducts. Surgical resection provides the only chance of cure for this disease but is technically challenging because of the complex, intimate and variable relationship between biliary and vascular structures at this location. Five years survival rates range between 25-45% (median 27-58 months) in case of R0 resection and 0-23% (median 12-21 months) in case of R1 resection respectively. It should be noted that the major costs of high radicality are represented by relative high morbidity and mortality rates (i.e., 20-66% and 0-9% respectively). Considering the fact that radical resection may represent the only curative treatment of phCCA, we focused our review on surgical planning and techniques that may improve resectability rates and outcomes for locally advanced phCCA. The surgical treatment of phCCA can be successful when following aspects have been fulfilled: (I) accurate preoperative diagnostic aimed to identify the tumor in all its details (localization and extension) and to study all the risk factors influencing a posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF): i.e., liver volume, liver function, liver quality, haemodynamics and patient characteristics; (II) High end surgical skills taking in consideration the local extension of the tumor and the vascular invasion which usually require an extended hepatic resection and often a vascular resection; (III) adequate postoperative management aimed to avoid major complications (i.e., PHLF and biliary complications). These are technically challenging operations and must be performed in a high volume centres by hepato-biliary-pancreas (HBP)-surgeons with experience in microsurgical vascular techniques.

Relationship of tumor size with pathological and prognostic factors for hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Objective

To determine the correlation of different tumor-size cutoffs with prognostic factors and survival outcomes to provide a reference for the modification of the T-stage classification in the DeOliveira staging system for hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA).

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 216 patients who underwent curative surgery for HCCA (mean tumor diameter, 2.8 cm) between 2000 and 2013. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to assess the correlation of tumor-size cutoffs with various factors.

Results

Tumor differentiation (odds ratio [OR]: 1.649, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.065–2.555, P = 0.025), node status (OR: 1.971, 95% CI: 1.060–3.664, P = 0.032), resection margin (OR: 2.465, 95% CI: 1.024–5.937, P = 0.044), and hepatectomy (OR: 2.373, 95% CI: 1.226–4.593, P = 0.01) were independently correlated with the 2-cm cutoff, while tumor differentiation (OR: 1.755, 95% CI: 1.062–2.091, P = 0.028), node status (OR: 2.166, 95% CI: 1.054–4.452, P = 0.035), and tumor margin (OR: 2.539, 95% CI: 1.089–5.919, P = 0.031) were independently associated with the 3-cm cutoff.

Conclusions

The 2-cm and 3-cm cutoffs were strongly correlated with resection margin, node status, tumor differentiation and survival. The 2-cm cutoff may be added to the DeOliveira staging system.

Prognostic value of lymphovascular invasion in Bismuth-Corlette type IV hilar cholangiocarcinoma

AIM

To assess the prognostic value of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in Bismuth-Corlette type IV hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC) patients.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed on 142 consecutively recruited type IV HC patients undergoing radical resection with at least 5 years of follow-up. Survival analysis was performed by the Kaplan-Meier method, and the association between the clinicopathologic variables and survival was evaluated by log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was adopted to identify the independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between LVI and potential variables.

RESULTS

LVI was confirmed histopathologically in 29 (20.4%) patients. Multivariate analysis showed that positive resection margin (HR = 6.255, 95%CI: 3.485-11.229, P < 0.001), N1 stage (HR = 2.902, 95%CI: 1.132-7.439, P = 0.027), tumor size > 30 mm (HR = 1.942, 95%CI: 1.176-3.209, P = 0.010) and LVI positivity (HR = 2.799, 95%CI: 1.588-4.935, P < 0.001) were adverse prognostic factors for DFS. The independent risk factors for OS were positive resection margin (HR = 6.776, 95%CI: 3.988-11.479, P < 0.001), N1 stage (HR = 2.827, 95%CI: 1.243-6.429, P = 0.013), tumor size > 30 mm (HR = 1.739, 95%CI: 1.101-2.745, P = 0.018) and LVI positivity (HR = 2.908, 95%CI: 1.712-4.938, P < 0.001). LVI was associated with N1 stage and tumor size > 30 mm. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that N1 stage (HR = 3.312, 95%CI: 1.338-8.198, P = 0.026) and tumor size > 30 mm (HR = 3.258, 95%CI: 1.288-8.236, P = 0.013) were associated with LVI.

CONCLUSION

LVI is associated with N1 stage and tumor size > 30 mm and adversely influences DFS and OS in type IV HC patients.

What is the most accurate lymph node staging method for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma? Comparison of UICC/AJCC pN stage, number of metastatic lymph nodes, lymph node ratio, and log odds of metastatic lymph nodes

BACKGROUND

We compared the prognostic performance of the International Union Against Cancer/American Joint Committee on Cancer (UICC/AJCC) 7th edition pN stage, number of metastatic LNs (MLNs), LN ratio (LNR), and log odds of MLNs (LODDS) in patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PCC) undergoing curative surgery in order to identify the best LN staging method.

METHODS

Ninety-nine patients who underwent surgery with curative intent for PCC in a single tertiary hepatobiliary referral center were included in the study. Two approaches were used to evaluate and compare the predictive power of the different LN staging methods: one based on the estimation of variable importance with prediction error rate and the other based on the calculation of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

RESULTS

LN dissection was performed in 92 (92.9%) patients; 49 were UICC/AJCC pN0 (49.5%), 33 pN1 (33.3%), and 10 pN2 (10.1%). The median number of LNs retrieved was 8. The prediction error rate ranged from 42.7% for LODDS to 47.1% for UICC/AJCC pN stage. Moreover, LODDS was the variable with the highest area under the ROC curve (AUC) for prediction of 3-year survival (AUC = 0.71), followed by LNR (AUC = 0.60), number of MLNs (AUC = 0.59), and UICC/AJCC pN stage (AUC = 0.54).

CONCLUSIONS

The number of MLNs, LNR, and LODDS appear to better predict survival than the UICC/AJCC pN stage in patients undergoing curative surgery for PCC. Moreover, LODDS seems to be the most accurate and predictive LN staging method.

The Surgical Management of Klatskin Tumours: Has Anything Changed in the Last Decade?

Surgical treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinomas requires complex pre-, intra- and post-operative decision-making. Despite the significant progress in liver surgery over the years, several issues such as the role of pre-operative biliary drainage, portal vein embolisation, staging laparoscopy and neo-adjuvant chemotherapy remain unresolved. Operative strategies such as vascular resection, caudate lobe resection and liver transplant have also been practiced in order to improve R0 resectability and improved survival. The review aims to consolidate evidence from major studies in the last 11 years. Survival data were only included from studies that reported the results in at least 30 patients with 1-year follow-up. A significant number of patients may be prevented an unnecessary laparotomy if they underwent a staging laparoscopy. There remain no guidelines as to when portal vein embolisation or pre-operative biliary drainage should be employed but most studies agree with pre-operative biliary drainage being an absolute indication if portal vein embolisation is performed. Concomitant hepatectomy and caudate lobectomy increases R0 resection but vascular resection cannot be routinely recommended. Liver transplant at specialised centres in selective patients has had impressive results. Guidelines are required for pre-operative biliary drainage and portal vein embolisation and randomised trials are required in order to define the role of vascular resection in achieving a R0 resection and increasing survival.

Prognostic factors and long-term outcomes of hilar cholangiocarcinoma: A single-institution experience in China

AIM: To evaluate the prognostic factors of hilar cholangiocarcinoma in a large series of patients in a single institution.

METHODS: Eight hundred and fourteen patients with a diagnosis of hilar cholangiocarcinoma that were evaluated and treated between 1990 and 2014, of which 381 patients underwent curative surgery, were included in this study. Potential factors associated with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS: Curative surgery provided the best long-term survival with a median OS of 26.3 mo. The median DFS was 18.1 mo. Multivariate analysis showed that patients with tumor size > 3 cm [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.482, 95%CI: 1.127-1.949; P = 0.005], positive nodal disease (HR = 1.701, 95%CI: 1.346-2.149; P < 0.001), poor differentiation (HR = 2.535, 95%CI: 1.839-3.493; P < 0.001), vascular invasion (HR = 1.542, 95%CI: 1.082-2.197; P = 0.017), and positive margins (HR = 1.798, 95%CI: 1.314-2.461; P < 0.001) had poor OS outcome. The independent factors for DFS were positive nodal disease (HR = 3.383, 95%CI: 2.633-4.348; P < 0.001), poor differentiation (HR = 2.774, 95%CI: 2.012-3.823; P < 0.001), vascular invasion (HR = 2.136, 95%CI: 1.658-3.236; P < 0.001), and positive margins (HR = 1.835, 95%CI: 1.256-2.679; P < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that caudate lobectomy [odds ratio (OR) = 9.771, 95%CI: 4.672-20.433; P < 0.001], tumor diameter (OR = 3.772, 95%CI: 1.914-7.434; P < 0.001), surgical procedures (OR = 10.236, 95%CI: 4.738-22.116; P < 0.001), American Joint Committee On Cancer T stage (OR = 2.010, 95%CI: 1.043-3.870; P = 0.037), and vascular invasion (OR = 2.278, 95%CI: 0.997-5.207; P = 0.051) were independently associated with tumor-free margin, and surgical procedures could indirectly affect survival outcome by influencing the tumor resection margin.

CONCLUSION: Tumor margin, tumor differentiation, vascular invasion, and lymph node status were independent factors for OS and DFS. Surgical procedures can indirectly affect survival outcome by influencing the tumor resection margin.

Outcome of curative resection for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma in Northeast Thailand

AIM: To examine survival outcomes of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PCCA) resection including mortality, morbidity and prognostic factors.

METHODS: Multivariate analyses were carried out based on the survival data of all patients with histologically confirmed PCCA who underwent curative resection at Srinagarind Hospital from January 2006 to December 2011.

RESULTS: There were 29 (19%) cases of intrahepatic CCA that involved hilar and 124 (81%) with hilar bile-duct cancer. R0 resection was carried out on 66 (43.1%) patients of whom 50 (32.7%) also had lymph node metastasis. The other patients underwent R1 resection. The overall 5-year survival rate was 20.6% (95%CI: 13.8-28.4) and median survival time was 19.9 mo. Postoperative mortality was 2%, and 30% of patients had complications. Patients without lymph node metastasis were 60% less likely to die than those with metastasis. Achieving R0 led to a 58% reduction in the chance of mortality as compared to R1.

CONCLUSION: To achieve a better survival outcome, focus should center on performing radical surgery and detection of patients with early stage cancer.

Bile duct surgery in the treatment of hepatobiliary and gallbladder malignancies: effects of hepatic and vascular resection on outcomes

BACKGROUND

Resection of the bile duct is required for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma and is sometimes indicated in resections of liver and gallbladder malignancies. The goal of this retrospective review was to characterize surgical outcomes in patients submitted to bile duct resection for malignancy when additional procedures, specifically hepatic or vascular resections, were performed.

METHODS

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was searched to identify a total of 747 patients who underwent: (i) biliary-enteric anastomosis (BEA) only (Group 1, n = 266); (ii) BEA with hepatic resection (Group 2, n = 439), or (iii) BEA with hepatic and vascular resection (Group 3, n = 42). Postoperative outcomes were compared and regression-adjusted risk factors were analysed to produce observed and expected (O/E) morbidity and mortality ratios.

RESULTS

The performance of hepatic and vascular resections significantly increased rates of overall morbidity (P < 0.001) and mortality (P = 0.021). Risk-adjusted O/E mortality ratios in Groups 1, 2 and 3 were 1.44 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84-2.30], 2.16 (95% CI 1.51-2.98) and 5.92 (95% CI 2.54-11.66), respectively. Multivariate analysis identified Group 2 (P < 0.001) and Group 3 (P = 0.001) status as independent predictors of morbidity, and Group 3 status (P = 0.008) as independently associated with mortality. More than 30% of deaths were associated with pulmonary complications and septic shock.

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of hepatic and vascular resections to bile duct resection significantly increased morbidity and mortality. The high O/E mortality ratios for patients in Groups 2 and 3 suggest these outcomes can be improved.

Impact of portal vein resection on oncologic long-term outcome in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Liver resection (LR) for hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCA) remains challenging because of the occurrence of unanticipated vascular and longitudinal bile duct invasion. Operative strategies to achieve negative resection margins vary, and the benefit of routine portal vein resection (PVR) is discussed controversially.

METHODS

The data of 60 consecutive patients who underwent LR for HCA were analyzed. Twenty-one patients (35.0%) underwent LR plus PVR and 39 (65.0%) LR only. Clinicopathologic data were evaluated by the use of uni- and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

The majority of resections was performed for Bismuth-Corlette type III/IV tumors (97.3%). Hepatectomy involved trisectionectomies in 41 patients (68.3%). R1 resection margin status was identified as adverse prognosis factor for survival (hazard ratio 3.61; P = .003). PVR increased the perioperative morbidity (P = .04). The 90-day mortality rate was comparable between both groups (P = .70). Negative resection margin status was similar between groups (P = .70). The lymph node clearance was equal (P = .86). PVR was not associated with a beneficial long-term outcome, the 5-year and disease-free survival were comparable (LR only 17.8% vs LR plus PVR 20.0% [P = .89] and LR only 10.6% vs LR plus PVR 21.4% [P = .63]). PVR was no prognostic factor for tumor-dependent or disease-free survival (hazard ratio 0.64; P = .26 and hazard ratio 0.76; P = .47).

CONCLUSION

The presented data indicate that simultaneous PVR has no beneficial impact on oncologic long-term outcome in patients undergoing LR for HCA. Because it increases the perioperative morbidity, a recommendation for routine application cannot be given.

Perioperative Management of Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Cholangiocarcinoma is the most common primary tumor of the biliary tract although it accounts for only 2 % of all human malignancies. We herein review hilar cholangiocarcinoma including its risk factors, the main classification systems for tumors, current surgical management of the disease, and the role chemotherapy and liver transplantation may play in selected patients.

METHODS

We performed a comprehensive literature search using PubMed, Medline, and the Cochrane library for the period 1980-2015 using the following MeSH terms: "hilar cholangiocarcinoma", "biliary cancer", and "cholangiocarcinoma". Only recent studies that were published in English and in peer reviewed journals were included.

FINDINGS

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma is a disease of advanced age with an unclear etiology, most frequently found in Southeast Asia and relatively rare in Western countries. The best chance of long-term survival and potential cure is surgical resection with negative surgical margins, but many patients are unresectable due to locally advanced or metastatic disease at diagnosis. As a result of recent efforts, new methods of management have been identified for these patients, including preoperative portal vein embolism and biliary drainage, neoadjuvant chemotherapy with subsequent transplantation, and chemoradiation therapy.

CONCLUSION

Current management of hilar cholangiocarcinoma depends on extent of the tumor at presentation and includes surgical resection, liver transplantation, portal vein embolization, and chemoradiation therapy. Our understanding of hilar cholangiocarcinoma has improved in recent years and further research offers hope to improve the outcome in patients with these rare tumors.

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma: expert consensus statement

An American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (AHPBA)-sponsored consensus meeting of expert panellists met on 15 January 2014 to review current evidence on the management of hilar cholangiocarcinoma in order to establish practice guidelines and to agree consensus statements. It was established that the treatment of patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma requires a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to optimize the chances for both durable survival and effective palliation. An adequate diagnostic and staging work-up includes high-quality cross-sectional imaging; however, pathologic confirmation is not required prior to resection or initiation of a liver transplant trimodal treatment protocol. The ideal treatment for suitable patients with resectable hilar malignancy is resection of the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts, as well as resection of the involved ipsilateral liver. Preoperative biliary drainage is best achieved with percutaneous transhepatic approaches and may be indicated for patients with cholangitis, malnutrition or hepatic insufficiency. Portal vein embolization is a safe and effective strategy for increasing the future liver remnant (FLR) and is particularly useful for patients with an FLR of <30%. Selected patients with unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma should be evaluated for a standard trimodal protocol incorporating external beam and endoluminal radiation therapy, systemic chemotherapy and liver transplantation. Post-resection chemoradiation should be offered to patients who show high-risk features on surgical pathology. Chemoradiation is also recommended for patients with locally advanced, unresectable hilar cancers. For patients with locally recurrent or metastatic hilar cholangiocarcinoma, first-line chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin is recommended based on multiple Phase II trials and a large randomized controlled trial including a heterogeneous population of patients with biliary cancers.

Survival after resection of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma-development and external validation of a prognostic nomogram

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to derive and validate a prognostic nomogram to predict disease-specific survival (DSS) after a curative intent resection of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A nomogram was developed from 173 patients treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, USA. The nomogram was externally validated in 133 patients treated at the Academic Medical Center (AMC), Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Prognostic accuracy was assessed with concordance estimates and calibration, and compared with the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system. The nomogram will be available as web-based calculator at mskcc.org/nomograms.

RESULTS

For all 306 patients, the median overall survival (OS) was 40 months and the median DSS 41 months. Median follow-up for patients alive at last follow-up was 48 months. Lymph node involvement, resection margin status, and tumor differentiation were independent prognostic factors in the derivation cohort (MSKCC). A nomogram with these prognostic factors had a concordance index of 0.73 compared with 0.66 for the AJCC staging system. In the validation cohort (AMC), the concordance index was 0.72, compared with 0.60 for the AJCC staging system. Calibration was good in the derivation cohort; in the validation cohort patients had a better median DSS than predicted by the model.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed nomogram to predict DSS after curative intent resection of PHC had a better prognostic accuracy than the AJCC staging system. Calibration was suboptimal because DSS differed between the two institutions. The nomogram can inform patients and physicians, guide shared decision making for adjuvant therapy, and stratify patients in future randomized, controlled trials.

Lymph node dissection in resectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma is usually unresectable at the time of diagnosis. Only few patients are candidates for a potential curative treatment. For those patients, prognosis is strongly related to negative resection margin and lymph node status. Thus, a certain benchmark of lymph node count is necessary to secure relevant lymph node recovery and to avoid understaging. However, the required minimum number of retrieved lymph nodes remains unclear for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. The 7th American Joint Committee on Cancer tumor, nodes, metastases edition increased the requirement for the histologic examination of lymph nodes in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma patients from 3 to 15. The applicability of such recommendation appears difficult and questionable. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the number of retrieved lymph nodes for staging of patients undergoing surgery for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODS

The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library databases were systematically screened up to December 2014. All studies reporting the number of lymph node count in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma were included and assessed for eligibility.

RESULTS

A total of 725 abstracts were screened and 20 studies were included for analysis, comprising almost 4,000 patients. The cumulative median lymph node count was 7 (2 to 24). A median lymph node count greater than or equal to 15 was reported in 9% of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma patients and could only be achieved in extended lymphadenectomy. Subgroup analysis revealed a median lymph node count of 7 (range 7 to 9), which was associated with the detection of most lymph node positive patients and showed the lowest risk for understaging patients. Lymph node count greater than or equal to 15 did not increase detection rate of lymph node positive patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic analysis suggests that lymph node count greater than or equal to 7 is adequate for prognostic staging, while lymph node count greater than or equal to 15 does not improve detection of patients with positive lymph nodes.

Surgical treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma: New advances

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma, a malignant tumor that occurs in the left and right hepatic duct, is the most common form of bile duct carcinoma. Early diagnosis of hilar cholangiocarcinoma is difficult, and the majority of patients are diagnosed in advanced stages. Therefore, surgery for this malignancy is difficult, has high risk, and is associated with a poor prognosis. In recent years, with the development of imaging technology and extended radical surgery, the preoperative diagnosis and surgical treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma have been improved. However, hilar cholangiocarcinoma still has a low cure rate, high complication rate, and poor prognosis. Therefore, we should strengthen the research on the susceptible factors and biological characteristics of hilar cholangiocarcinoma, and improve early diagnosis. Currently, although there has been no unified standard for the resectability of the tumor, surgery combined with partial hepatectomy is strongly recommended in patients without surgical contraindication. This paper reviews the recent progress in surgical treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Clinical practice guidelines for the management of biliary tract cancers 2015: the 2nd English edition

BACKGROUND

The Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery launched the clinical practice guidelines for the management of biliary tract and ampullary carcinomas in 2008. Novel treatment modalities and handling of clinical issues have been proposed after the publication. New approaches for editing clinical guidelines, such as the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system, also have been introduced for better and clearer grading of recommendations.

METHODS

Clinical questions (CQs) were proposed in seven topics. Recommendation, grade of recommendation and statement for each CQ were discussed and finalized by evidence-based approach. Recommendation was graded to grade 1 (strong) and 2 (weak) according to the concept of GRADE system.

RESULTS

The 29 CQs covered seven topics: (1) prophylactic treatment, (2) diagnosis, (3) biliary drainage, (4) surgical treatment, (5) chemotherapy, (6) radiation therapy, and (7) pathology. In 27 CQs, 19 recommendations were rated strong and 11 recommendations weak. Each CQ included the statement of how the recommendation was graded.

CONCLUSIONS

This guideline provides recommendation for important clinical aspects based on evidence. Future collaboration with cancer registry will be a key for assessment of the guidelines and establishment of new evidence. Free full-text articles and a mobile application of this guideline are available via http://www.jshbps.jp/en/guideline/biliary-tract2.html.

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma: controversies on the extent of surgical resection aiming at cure

BACKGROUND

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma is the most common malignant tumor affecting the extrahepatic bile duct. Surgical treatment offers the only possibility of cure, and it requires removal of all tumoral tissues with adequate resection margins. The aims of this review are to summarize the findings and to discuss the controversies on the extent of surgical resection aiming at cure for hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODS

The English medical literatures on hilar cholangiocarcinoma were studied to review on the relevance of adequate resection margins, routine caudate lobe resection, extent of liver resection, and combined vascular resection on perioperative and long-term survival outcomes of patients with resectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

RESULTS

Complete resection of tumor represents the most important prognostic factor of long-term survival for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. The primary aim of surgery is to achieve R0 resection. When R1 resection is shown intraoperatively, further resection is recommended. Combined hepatic resection is now generally accepted as a standard procedure even for Bismuth type I/II tumors. Routine caudate lobe resection is also advocated for cure. The extent of hepatic resection remains controversial. Most surgeons recommend major hepatic resection. However, minor hepatic resection has also been advocated in most patients. The decision to carry out right- or left-sided hepatectomy is made according to the predominant site of the lesion. Portal vein resection should be considered when its involvement by tumor is suspected.

CONCLUSION

The curative treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma remains challenging. Advances in hepatobiliary techniques have improved the perioperative and long-term survival outcomes of this tumor.

Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma: Current therapy

Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, which is a rare primary malignancy, originates from the epithelial cells of the bile duct. Usually invading the periductal tissues and the lymph nodes, perihilar cholangiocarcinoma is commonly diagnosed in the advanced stage of the disease and has a dismal prognosis. Currently, complete hepatectomy is the primary therapy for curing this disease. Perioperative assessment and available surgical procedures can be considered for achieving a negative margin resection, which is associated with long-term survival and better quality of life. For patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma, several palliative treatments have been demonstrated to produce a better outcome; and liver transplantation for selected patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma is promising and desirable. However, the role of palliative treatments and liver transplantation was controversial and requires more evidence and substantial validity from multiple institutions. In this article, we summarize the data from multiple institutions and discuss the resectability, mortality, morbidity and outcome with different approaches.

Curative-intent surgery for hilar cholangiocarcinoma: prognostic factors for clinical decision making

BACKGROUND

The surgical approach for hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC) has largely evolved, and increased resectability rates are reported. Large series of patients with resections for HC were published in the last years, and potential predictors for survival were explored. However, the usefulness of these predictors in clinical decision making is controversial.

PURPOSE

The aim of the present review is to explore the main prognostic factors after curative-intent surgery for HC, as emerged from the current literature. Furthermore, the impact of these predictors on clinical decision making is assessed.

CONCLUSION

An aggressive surgical approach has improved the survival rates in patients with HC and implies bile duct resection associated with liver resection and loco-regional lymph node dissection. The AJCC staging system remains the main tool to assess the prognosis after resection of HC. Margin-negative resections and absence of lymph node metastases are the main prognostic factor after curative-intent surgery for HC. Response to chemotherapy is also a prognostic factor. Markers of systemic inflammatory response might predict prognosis of patients with HC, but their usefulness in clinical decision making remains unclear.

Multimodal treatment strategies for advanced hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the second most common primary malignancy of the liver arising from malignant transformation and growth of biliary ductal epithelium. Approximately 50-70 % of CCAs arise at the hilar plate of the biliary tree, which are termed hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC). Various staging systems are currently employed to classify HCs and determine resectability. Depending on the pre-operative staging, the mainstays of treatment include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and photodynamic therapy. Surgical resection offers the only chance for cure of HC and achieving an R0 resection has demonstrated improved overall survival. However, obtaining longitudinal and radial surgical margins that are free of tumor can be difficult and frequently requires extensive resections, particularly for advanced HCs. Pre-operative interventions may be necessary to prepare patients for major hepatic resections, including endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, and portal vein embolization. Multimodal therapy that combines chemotherapy with external beam radiation, stereotactic body radiation therapy, bile duct brachytherapy, and/or photodynamic therapy are all possible strategies for advanced HC prior to resection. Orthotopic liver transplantation is another therapeutic option that can achieve complete extirpation of locally advanced HC in judiciously selected patients following standardized neoadjuvant protocols.

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma: diagnosis, treatment options, and management

Hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC) is a rare disease with a poor prognosis which typically presents in the 6(th) decade of life. Of the 3,000 cases seen annually in the United States, less than one half of these tumors are resectable. A variety of risk factors have been associated with HC, most notably primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), biliary stone disease and parasitic liver disease. Patients typically present with abdominal pain, pruritis, weight loss, and jaundice. Computed topography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound (US) are used to characterize biliary lesions. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) assess local ductal extent of the tumor while allowing for therapeutic biliary drainage. MRCP has demonstrated similar efficacies to PTC and ERCP in identifying anatomic extension of tumors with less complications. Treatment consists of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy. Biliary drainage of the future liver remnant should be performed to decrease bilirubin levels thereby facilitating future liver hypertrophy. Standard therapy consists of surgical margin-negative (R0) resection with extrahepatic bile duct resection, hepatectomy and en bloc lymphadenectomy. Local resection should not be undertaken. Lymph node invasion, tumor grade and negative margins are important prognostic indicators. In instances where curative resection is not possible, liver transplantation has demonstrated acceptable outcomes in highly selected patients. Despite the limited data, chemotherapy is indicated for patients with unresectable tumors and adequate functional status. Five-year survival after surgical resection of HC ranges from 10% to 40% however, recurrence can be as high as 50-70% even after R0 resection. Due to the complexity of this disease, a multi-disciplinary approach with multimodal treatment is recommended for this complex disease.

A review of the clinical diagnosis and therapy of cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the second most common primary hepatic malignancy worldwide. The incidence of intrahepatic CCA is increasing, whereas that of extrahepatic CCA is decreasing. This review looks at the new advances that have been made in the management of CCA, based on a PubMed and Science Citation Index search of results from randomized controlled trials, reviews, and cohort, prospective and retrospective studies. Aggressive interventional approaches and new histopathological techniques have been developed to make a histological diagnosis in patients with high risk factors or suspected CCA. Resectability of the tumour can now be assessed using multiple radiological imaging studies; the main prognostic factor after surgery is a histologically negative resection margin. Biliary drainage and/or portal vein embolization may be performed before extended radical resection, or liver transplantation may be undertaken in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Though many advances have been made in the management of CCA, the standard modality of treatment has not yet been established. This review focuses on the clinical options for different stages of CCA.