Impact of specialized multi-disciplinary approach and an integrated pathway on outcomes in hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Comparative study of short-and long-term results in patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma undergoing surgical resection: does the extent and side of resection really affect outcome?

BACKGROUND

The surgical management of perihilar carcinoma (pCCA) is still subject of ongoing debate. To provide more clarity, this study was conducted to evaluate outcomes related to the side and extent of heatectomy in patients with pCAA.

METHODS

A total of 32 patients with curative resection for pCCA were identified from our prospective database. Short-and long-term clinical outcome data and histopathological results were compared between right-sided (R-H) and left-sided (L-H) hepatectomy.

RESULTS

Nine patients (28.13%) underwent left-sided hepatectomy while a right-sided hepatectomy was accomplished in 23 patients (71.87%). In the R-H group hepatic conditioning of the future liver remnant (FLR) prior to extended resection was necessary in 13 cases (56.52%), and simultaneous pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed in 5 patients (21.74%). The arterial and portal venous reconstruction rates were 17.39% and 11.11% (P=1.00), and 60.87% and 33.33% (P=0.243) in the R-H and L-H groups, respectively. No statistically significant differences in short-term morbidity and mortality between both groups were observed. The rate of R0 resections was comparable (R-H: 78.26% versus L-H: 66.67%; P=0.654) resulting in similar long-term overall and disease-free survival rates after right-and left hepatectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with pCCA, both right- and left-sided resections appear to be safe and feasible options with similar postoperative morbidity and oncologic outcomes. Consecutively, the ideal surgical approach should be patient-tailored based on anatomical considerations and the functional future liver capacity.

Management of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Narrative Review

The management of resectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma remains a challenge due to the high risk of recurrence. Numerous clinical trials have identified effective systemic therapies for advanced biliary tract cancer; however, fewer trials have evaluated systemic therapies in the perioperative period. The objective of this review is to summarize the current recommendations regarding the diagnosis, surgical resection, and systemic therapy for anatomically resectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Our review demonstrates that surgical resection with microscopic negative margins and lymphadenectomy remains the cornerstone of treatment. High-level evidence regarding specific systemic therapies for use in resectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma remains sparse, as most of the evidence is extrapolated from trials involving heterogeneous tumor populations. Targeted therapies are an evolving practice for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with most evidence coming from phase II trials. Future research is required to evaluate the use of neoadjuvant therapy for patients with resectable and borderline resectable disease.

Predicting futility of upfront surgery in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma: Machine learning analytics model to optimize treatment allocation

BACKGROUND

While resection remains the only curative option for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, it is well known that such surgery is associated with a high risk of morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, beyond facing life-threatening complications, patients may also develop early disease recurrence, defining a "futile" outcome in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma surgery. The aim of this study is to predict the high-risk category (futile group) where surgical benefits are reversed and alternative treatments may be considered.

METHODS

The study cohort included prospectively maintained data from 27 Western tertiary referral centers: the population was divided into a development and a validation cohort. The Framingham Heart Study methodology was used to develop a preoperative scoring system predicting the "futile" outcome.

RESULTS

A total of 2271 cases were analyzed: among them, 309 were classified within the "futile group" (13.6%). American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) score ≥ 3 (OR 1.60; p = 0.005), bilirubin at diagnosis ≥50 mmol/L (OR 1.50; p = 0.025), Ca 19-9 ≥ 100 U/mL (OR 1.73; p = 0.013), preoperative cholangitis (OR 1.75; p = 0.002), portal vein involvement (OR 1.61; p = 0.020), tumor diameter ≥3 cm (OR 1.76; p < 0.001), and left-sided resection (OR 2.00; p < 0.001) were identified as independent predictors of futility. The point system developed, defined three (ie, low, intermediate, and high) risk classes, which showed good accuracy (AUC 0.755) when tested on the validation cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

The possibility to accurately estimate, through a point system, the risk of severe postoperative morbidity and early recurrence, could be helpful in defining the best management strategy (surgery vs. nonsurgical treatments) according to preoperative features.

Results from the european survey on preoperative management and optimization protocols for PeriHilar cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Major surgery, along with preoperative cholestasis-related complications, are responsible for the increased risk of morbidity and mortality in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA). The aim of the present survey is to provide a snapshot of current preoperative management and optimization strategies in Europe.

METHODS

61 European centers, experienced in hepato-biliary surgery completed a 59-questions survey regarding pCCA preoperative management. Centers were stratified according to surgical caseload (<5 and ≥ 5 cases/year) and preoperative management protocols' application.

RESULTS

The overall case volume consisted of 6333 patients. Multidisciplinary discussion was routinely performed in 91.8% of centers. Most respondents (96.7%) recognized the importance of a well-structured preoperative protocol. The preferred method for biliary drainage was percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (60.7%) while portal vein embolization was the preferred technique for liver hypertrophy (90.2%). Differences in preoperative pathologic confirmation of malignancy (35.8% vs 28.7%; p < 0.001), number of mismanaged referred patients (88.2% vs 50.8%; p < 0.001), biliary drainage (65.1% vs 55.6%; p = 0.015) and liver function evaluation (37.2% vs 5.6%; p = 0.001) were found between centers according to groups' stratification.

CONCLUSION

The importance of a correct preoperative management is recognized. Nevertheless, the current lack of guidelines leads to wide heterogeneity of behaviors among centers. This survey can provide recommendations to improve pCCA perioperative outcomes.

The failure to rescue factor: aftermath analyses on 224 cases of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma

The term "failure to rescue" (FTR) has been recently introduced in the field of hepato-biliary surgery to label cases in which major postoperative complications lead to postoperative fatality. Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC) surgery has consistently high postoperative morbidity and mortality rates in which factors associated with FTR are yet to be discovered. The primary endpoint of this study is to compare the Rescue with the FTR cohort referencing patients' characteristics and management protocols applied. A cohort of 224 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for PHC, between 2010 and 2021, was enrolled. Perioperative variables were analyzed according to the severity of major postoperative complications (Clavien ≥ 3a). Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed to determine complications' impact on survival. Major complications were reported in 86 cases (38%). Among the major complications' cohort, 72 cases (84%) were graded Clavien 3a-4 (Rescue group), while 14 (16%) cases were graded Clavien 5 (FTR group). Number of lymph-node metastases (OR = 1.33 (1.08-1.63) p = 0.006), poorly differentiated (G3) adenocarcinoma (OR = 7.55 (1.24-45.8) p = 0.028, reintervention (OR = 16.47 (2.76-98.08) p = 0.002), and prognostic nutritional index < 40 (OR = 3.01 (2.265-3.654) p < 0.001) rates were independent predictors of FTR. Right resection side (OR 2.4 (1.33-4.34) p = 0.004) increased the odds of major complications but not of FTR. No difference in overall survival was identified. A distinction of perioperative factors associated with postoperative complications' severity is crucial. Patients developing severe outcomes seem to have different biological and nutritional profiles, showing that efficient preoperative protocols are strategic to identify and avert the risk of FTR.

Radial and longitudinal margins in surgery of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma: When R1 definition is associated with different prognosis

BACKGROUND

Infiltrated margins of resection (R1) and lymph node invasion are dominant negative predictors of survival in patients with a resectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. Less clear is whether survival predictors stratify differently between R0 (tumor-free margins) and R1 patients and whether the prognosis of the latter patients is influenced by the pattern of neoplastic infiltration (ie, radial versus longitudinal infiltration). We retrospectively evaluated a series of reported resected perihilar cholangiocarcinoma to obtain insights on the predictive power of these histologic features.

METHODS

The study includes 264 patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma treated between 2004 and 2019 in our center and followed up for >18 months. There were 176 patients with R0 (66.6%) and 88 patients with R1 (33.3%), 31 with radial infiltration only, 30 with longitudinal infiltration only, and 27 with both infiltration patterns. In all patients, the criteria for resection was the absence of metastatic involvement (ie, distant organ metastases, liver metastases, and lymph node metastases beyond the hepatoduodenal ligament). Histopathologic specimens of the resected tumors were centrally reviewed by a pathologist unaware of the clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

Three- and 5-year long-term survival were significantly better in R0 (respectively) compared to R1 patients (55% and 42% vs 42% and 18%, respectively, P < .05). In R1 patients with radial infiltration only and those with radial + longitudinal infiltration, both disease-free and overall survival were worse than those with longitudinal infiltration only (median disease-free survival of 18 and 23 months, respectively, P < .05, median overall survival of 33 and 39 months, respectively, P < .05). At multivariable analysis, nodal status, side of hepatectomy, grading, and presence of radial margin infiltration were associated with long-term outcome.

CONCLUSION

Radial infiltration of resection margins enhances the negative prognostic value of R1 margins in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma patients and should specifically be accounted for in the prediction of the outcome of adjuvant therapy.

Early postoperative arterial lactate concentrations to stratify risk of post-hepatectomy liver failure

BACKGROUND

Post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) represents the major determinant for death after liver resection. Early recognition is essential. Perioperative lactate dynamics for risk assessment of PHLF and associated morbidity were evaluated.

METHODS

This was a multicentre observational study of patients undergoing hepatectomy with validation in international high-volume units. Receiver operating characteristics analysis and cut-off calculation for the predictive value of lactate for clinically relevant International Study Group of Liver Surgery grade B/C PHLF (clinically relevant PHLF (CR-PHLF)) were performed. Lactate and other perioperative factors were assessed in a multivariable CR-PHLF regression model.

RESULTS

The exploratory cohort comprised 509 patients. CR-PHLF, death, overall morbidity and severe morbidity occurred in 7.7, 3.3, 40.9 and 29.3 per cent of patients respectively. The areas under the curve (AUCs) regarding CR-PHLF were 0.829 (95 per cent c.i. 0.770 to 0.888) for maximum lactate within 24 h (Lactate_Max) and 0.870 (95 per cent c.i. 0.818 to 0.922) for postoperative day 1 levels (Lactate_POD1). The respective AUCs in the validation cohort (482 patients) were 0.812 and 0.751 and optimal Lactate_Max cut-offs were identical in both cohorts. Exploration cohort patients with Lactate_Max 50 mg/dl or greater more often developed CR-PHLF (50.0 per cent) than those with Lactate_Max between 20 and 49.9 mg/dl (7.4 per cent) or less than 20 mg/dl (0.5 per cent; P < 0.001). This also applied to death (18.4, 2.7 and 1.4 per cent), severe morbidity (71.1, 35.7 and 14.1 per cent) and associated complications such as acute kidney injury (26.3, 3.1 and 2.3 per cent) and haemorrhage (15.8, 3.1 and 1.4 per cent). These results were confirmed in the validation group. Combining Lactate_Max with Lactate_POD1 further increased AUC (ΔAUC = 0.053) utilizing lactate dynamics for risk assessment. Lactate_Max, major resections, age, cirrhosis and chronic kidney disease were independent risk factors for CR-PHLF. A freely available calculator facilitates clinical risk stratification (www.liver-calculator.com).

CONCLUSION

Early postoperative lactate values are powerful, readily available markers for CR-PHLF and associated complications after hepatectomy with potential for guiding postoperative care.Presented in part as an oral video abstract at the 2020 online Congress of the European Society for Surgical Research and the 2021 Congress of the Austrian Surgical Society.

Impact of preoperative biliary drainage on postoperative outcomes in hilar cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

Complete resection is the most effective treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC) but may result in high morbidity and mortality. Most HC patients have jaundice, and preoperative biliary drainage may reduce their risk of obstructive jaundice. ERCP and PTBD have been advocated for this purpose. This retrospective study investigated the influence of ERCP versus PTBD versus their combination on the short-term outcomes of curative HC resection.

METHODS

Patients having curative HC resection with preoperative biliary drainage in a span of 26 years were reviewed and divided into groups according to drainage modality. Drainage-related and surgical complications and hospital mortality were compared between groups. Intention-to-treat analysis using a separate set of initial drainage data was performed.

RESULTS

Eighty-six patients were divided into: Group A, ERCP only, n = 32 (32/86 = 37.2%); Group B, PTBD only, n = 10 (10/86 = 11.6%); Group C, ERCP + PTBD, n = 44 (44/86 = 51.2%). International normalized ratio was significantly higher in Group B (p = 0.008). The three groups were comparable in operative details, hospital stay, and mortality. Fifty-two patients had postoperative complications. Significantly more patients in Groups A and C had subphrenic abscess (A: 25%, B: 0%, C: 9.1%; p = 0.035) and subsequent radiological drainage. Group A had insignificantly more patients with wound infection (31.3% vs 10% vs 22.7%, p = 0.334), chest infection (28.1% vs 20% vs 11.4%, p = 0.178), and urinary tract infection (6.3% vs 0% vs 0%, p = 0.133). The three groups had similar rates of major complications (p = 0.501). They also had comparable survival outcomes (overall, p = 0.370; disease-free, p = 0.569). Fifteen and 71 patients received PTBD and ERCP respectively as first drainage mode. These two groups were comparable in liver function, preoperative comorbidity, intraoperative details, and postoperative outcomes.

CONCLUSION

In the preoperative management of HC, the use of ERCP, PTBD or their combination is acceptable and can optimize patients' condition for curative HC resection.

Italian Clinical Practice Guidelines on Cholangiocarcinoma - Part II: Treatment

Currently, the only curative treatment for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is surgical resection, though this treatment is possible in less than 40% of patients. However, recent improvements in preoperative management have led to a higher number of patients who are candidates for this procedure. For unresectable patients, progress is ongoing in terms of locoregional and chemoradiation treatments and target therapies, especially in the definition of patient selection criteria. This is the second part of the Italian CCA guidelines, dealing with CCA treatment, that have been formulated in accordance with Italian National Institute of Health indications and developed according to the GRADE method and related advancements.

Prognosis and Circumferential Margin in Patients with Resected Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Resection margin status is a known prognosticator in patients who undergo resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. However, the influence of an isolated positive circumferential margin on clinical outcome is unclear.

METHODS

Patients with resected de novo hilar cholangiocarcinoma from two European hepatobiliary centres (Medical University of Vienna and Aintree University Hospital, 2006-2016) were classified according to resection margin status (negative, surgically positive, isolated circumferentially positive) and investigated with respect to overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS) and recurrence pattern.

RESULTS

Eighty-three (48 male/35 female) patients were enrolled. The median age was 64 years (range 33-80). The median follow-up was 21.7 months (range 0.3-92.4). Forty (48%) patients had negative resection margins, 25 (30%) had an isolated positive circumferential margin and 18 (22%) had a positive surgical margin. The 5-year OS rates in patients with negative, isolated positive circumferential and positive surgical resection margins were 47%, 33% and 0%, respectively. Median OS was 45.6, 32.7 and 14.5 months, respectively (log rank, P = 0.011). Upon multivariable Cox regression analysis, resection margin status and lymph node status remained statistically significant (P < 0.05). No difference with respect to RFS and recurrence pattern was found between the groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our data show that these three resection margin types were associated with different clinical outcomes. Circumferential margin status may therefore serve as a novel prognostic biomarker.

Does additional resection of a positive microscopic ductal margin benefit patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The incidence of a positive microscopic ductal margin (R1) after surgical resection for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) remains high, but the beneficial of additional resection has not been confirmed by any meta-analysis and randomized clinical trials (RCT), which also increased the risk of morbidity and mortality. Hence, a systematic review is warranted to evaluate the clinical value of additional resection of intraoperative R1 for pCCA.

Methods

Eligible studies were searched by PubMed, MedLine, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, from Jan.1^st 2000 to Nov.30^th 2019, evaluating the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates of additional resection of intraoperative pathologic R1 for pCCA. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to determine the effect size by a randomized-effect model.

Results

Eight studies were enrolled in this meta-analysis, including 179 patients in the secondary R0 group, 843 patients in the primary R0 group and 253 patients in the R1 group. The pooled OR for the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rate between secondary R0 group and primary R0 group were 1.03(95%CI 0.64~1.67, P = 0.90), 0.92(95%CI 0.52~1.64, P = 0.78), and 0.83(95%CI 0.37~1.84, P = 0.65), respectively. The pooled OR for the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rate between secondary R0 group and R1 group were 2.14(95%CI 1.31~3.50, P = 0.002), 2.58(95%CI 1.28~5.21, P = 0.008), and 3.54(95%CI 1.67~7.50, P = 0.001), respectively. However, subgroup analysis of the West showed that the pooled OR for the 1-, and 3-year OS rate between secondary R0 group and R1 group were 2.05(95%CI 0.95~4.41, P = 0.07), 1.91(95%CI 0.96~3.81, P = 0.07), respectively.

Conclusion

With the current data, additional resection should be recommended in selected patients with intraoperative R1, but the conclusion is needed further validation.

Our Rationale of Initiating Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma: A Proposal of Criteria for "Borderline Resectable" in the Field of Surgery for Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

The concept of "borderline resectable" was recently introduced to the field of surgery for pancreatic cancer, and surgical outcomes for this disease with extremely dismal prognosis have improved since the introduction of this concept. However, no such concept has yet been introduced to the field of surgery for hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCca).

AIM

To determine a definition and criteria for "borderline resectable" in the field of surgery for HCca.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective analysis of 88 patients undergoing curative-intent surgery for HCca at our institution between May 1992 and December 2008 to clarify independent prognostic factors.

RESULTS

Survival outcomes were obtained for these 88 patients, with a 5-year overall survival rate of 31.8%. Independent factors predictive of cancer death were determined by multivariate analysis to be the presence of regional lymph node metastasis (LNM) and pathological confirmed vascular invasion (VI). Cumulative survival rates of 23 patients with both LNM and VI who underwent surgery were significantly worse than those of the remaining 65 surgically treated patients and similar to those of 26 patients who were considered to have unresectable disease and treated with non-surgical multidisciplinary treatment during the same study period.

CONCLUSION

Outcomes of surgery for cases of HCca showing regional LNM and VI were no better than those of non-surgical treatment for unresectable disease. Coexistence of these two factors indicates oncologically dismal condition and thus such cases should be considered "borderline resectable." Treatments additional to surgery are required for "borderline resectable" cases to obtain better outcomes.

Clinical outcome after resection of early-stage hilar cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Liver transplantation in patients with unresectable early-stage (<3 cm, node negative) hilar cholangiocarcinoma has been recently reported to be associated with longer survival compared to liver resection and therefore suggested as potential treatment option also in resectable disease. Here, we investigated the outcome of resection in early-stage tumours as the standard of care in an experienced European centre.

METHODS

Patients with de novo resectable hilar cholangiocarcinomas who underwent liver resection between mid-2009 and December 2017 were classified as early-stage (<3 cm and node negative) or later-stage tumours (≥3 cm and/or node positive), and were investigated with respect to clinical outcome.

RESULTS

Fifty-six patients were analyzed of whom 17 had early-stage tumours and 39 had later-stage tumours. The sex ratio (m:f) was 30:26. The median age was 65 years (range 33-80). The median follow-up was 17.0 months (range 0.7-92.4). 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 82% in patients with early-stage tumours and 23% in patients with later-stage tumours, respectively. Median OS was 89.9 months and 27.6 months, respectively (HR 0.25 (95% CI 0.08-0.84), P = 0.024).

CONCLUSIONS

In an experienced European centre, 5-year survival rates after liver resection for early-stage hilar cholangiocarcinoma are comparable with reported outcomes after transplantation. The results of this study question the value of liver transplantation in this setting, especially with respect to the shortage of transplantable organs worldwide.

Management of hilum infiltrating tumors of the liver: The impact of experience and standardization on outcome

BACKGROUND

The primary endpoint of this study was to evaluate the outcome of surgery for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma in a high-volume tertiary referral center.

METHODS

The study population consisted of 196 consecutive patients with histologically confirmed perihilar cholangiocarcinoma-PHC-who were candidates to surgical treatment. Factors affecting postoperative morbidity were evaluated in the whole series (primary endpoint) and after stratification of patients according to the following criteria: (a) perioperative management protocol implementation; (b) monocentric management (secondary endpoint).

RESULTS

The postoperative morbidity rate was 51.5% and mortality 4.1%. The most frequent cause of death was postoperative liver failure. At multivariate analysis, factors affecting the risk of morbidity were: side of hepatectomy, liver volume, intraoperative blood loss, preoperative optimization and single-center management. Patients treated according to preoperative optimization protocol, as well as patients with monocentric management experienced a significant reduction of postoperative morbidity. Preoperative optimization and single-center management significantly affected even long term outcome of patients.

CONCLUSION

Despite continuous improvement in the surgical field, hilum-infiltrating tumors still remain associated with therapeutic and management challenges: a correct preoperative management in a tertiary referral center provides a benefit in terms of morbidity and mortality, thus improving long term results.

Role of a pre-operative radiological scoring system in determining resectability for potentially resectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma

AIMS

Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare cancer arising from the biliary tree. Case series indicate that 25-40% of all borderline resectable primary tumours are potentially resectable. The Memorial Sloane Kettering System (MSKCC) stratifies patients for resectability by longitudinal and radial extension of the hilar tumour. The Bismuth-Corlette system describes the longitudinal extension of the tumour within the biliary duct system. We sought to validate and, if possible, augment these two scores within an independent validation cohort.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with hilar cholangiocarcinoma between January 2009 and December 2016 were analysed from a prospectively held database. Patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma, peripheral cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer were excluded. Comparison of surgical findings to pre-operative radiological imaging was undertaken at the time of surgery.

RESULTS

The validation cohort was formed of 198 patients, of which, 55 (27.8%) patients underwent resection. Logistic regression analyses identified that BC score, MSKCC score, age at diagnosis and left artery involvement were all significant independent predictor's univariately. BC score explained 28% of the variability in resectability compared to 26% explained by MSKCC. In combination, the model consisting of BC score, age at diagnosis and left artery involvement explained 39% of variability in resectability compared to the 34% explained same model including MSKCC score instead of BC score.

CONCLUSION

In this cohort an augmented BC score, incorporating left hepatic artery involvement, is more discriminative in predicting resectability than the current MSKCC system.

Optimal perioperative care in peri-hilar cholangiocarcinoma resection

Surgical resection remains the only proven curative treatment for peri-hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Despite recent advances in liver surgery techniques and perioperative care, resection for peri-hilar cholangiocarcinoma remains associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Considerable variation in the perioperative management of these patients exists. Optimal perioperative management has the potential to deliver improved outcomes. This article seeks to summarize the evidence underpinning best practice in the perioperative care of patients undergoing resection of peri-hilar cholangiocarcinoma. The authors also seek to identify areas where research efforts and future clinical trials should be targeted.

Role of staging laparoscopy in the stratification of patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare cancer with a poor prognosis. Radical surgical resection is the only option for curative treatment. Optimal determination of resectability is required so that patients can be stratified into operative or chemotherapeutic treatment cohorts in an accurate and time-efficient manner. Staging laparoscopy is utilized to determine the presence of radiologically occult disease that would preclude further surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to analyse the utility of staging laparoscopy in a contemporary cohort of patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with potentially resectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma between January 2010 and April 2015 were analysed retrospectively from a prospective database linked to UK Hospital Episode Statistics data. Patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer were excluded from analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 431 patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma were referred for assessment of potential resection at a supraregional referral centre. Some 116 patients with potentially resectable disease subsequently underwent surgical assessment. The cohort demonstrated an all-cause yield of staging laparoscopy for unresectable disease of 27·2 per cent (31 of 114). The sensitivity for detection of peritoneal disease was 71 per cent (15 of 21; P < 0·001). The accuracy for all-cause non-resection for staging laparoscopy was 66 per cent (31 of 47) with a positive predictive value of progress to resection of 81 per cent (69 of 85). Neither the Bismuth-Corlette nor the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center preoperative scoring system was contingent with cause of unresectability at staging laparoscopy (P = 0·462 and P = 0·280 respectively).

CONCLUSION

In the present cohort, staging laparoscopy proved useful in determining the presence of radiologically occult metastatic disease in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Development of a Risk Score to Predict Detection of Metastasized or Locally Advanced Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma at Staging Laparoscopy

Background

Nearly half of patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC) have incurable tumors at laparotomy. Staging laparoscopy (SL) potentially detects metastases or locally advanced disease, thereby avoiding unnecessary laparotomy. However, the diagnostic yield of SL has decreased with improved imaging in recent years.

Objective

The aim of this study was to identify predictors for detecting metastasized or locally advanced PHC at SL and to develop a risk score to select patients who may benefit most from this procedure.

Methods

Data of patients with potentially resectable PHC who underwent SL between 2000 and 2015 in our center were retrospectively analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors and to develop a preoperative risk score.

Results

Unresectable PHC was detected in 41 of 273 patients undergoing SL (yield 15 %). Overall sensitivity of SL was 30 %, with highest sensitivity for detecting peritoneal metastases (73 %). Preoperative imaging factors that were independently associated with unresectability at SL were tumor size ≥4.5 cm, bilateral portal vein involvement, suspected lymph node metastases, and suspected (extra)hepatic metastases on imaging without the possibility of diagnosis by percutaneous- or endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy. The derived preoperative risk score showed good discrimination to predict unresectability (area under the curve 0.77, 95 % confidence interval 0.68–0.86) and identified three subgroups with a predicted low-risk of 7 % (N = 203 patients), intermediate-risk of 21 % (N = 39), and high-risk of 58 % (N = 31).

Conclusions

A selective approach for SL in PHC is recommended since the overall yield is low. The proposed preoperative risk score is useful in selecting patients for SL.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1245/s10434-016-5531-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Strict Selection Alone of Patients Undergoing Liver Transplantation for Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma Is Associated with Improved Survival

Liver transplantation for hilar cholangiocarcinoma (hCCA) has regained attention since the Mayo Clinic reported their favorable results with the use of a neo-adjuvant chemoradiation protocol. However, debate remains whether the success of the protocol should be attributed to the neo-adjuvant therapy or to the strict selection criteria that are being applied. The aim of this study was to investigate the value of patient selection alone on the outcome of liver transplantation for hCCA. In this retrospective study, patients that were transplanted for hCCA between1990 and 2010 in Europe were identified using the European Liver Transplant Registry (ELTR). Twenty-one centers reported 173 patients (69%) of a total of 249 patients in the ELTR. Twenty-six patients were wrongly coded, resulting in a study group of 147 patients. We identified 28 patients (19%) who met the strict selection criteria of the Mayo Clinic protocol, but had not undergone neo-adjuvant chemoradiation therapy. Five–year survival in this subgroup was 59%, which is comparable to patients with pretreatment pathological confirmed hCCA that were transplanted after completion of the chemoradiation protocol at the Mayo Clinic. In conclusion, although the results should be cautiously interpreted, this study suggests that with strict selection alone, improved survival after transplantation can be achieved, approaching the Mayo Clinic experience.

Diagnostic accuracy of staging laparoscopy for detecting metastasized or locally advanced perihilar cholangiocarcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Despite extensive preoperative staging, still almost half of patients with potentially resectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC) have locally advanced or metastasized disease upon exploratory laparotomy. The value of routine staging laparoscopy (SL) in these patients remains unclear with varying results reported in the literature. The aim of the present systematic review was to provide an overview of studies on SL in PHC and to define its current role in preoperative staging.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed in PubMed and EMBASE regarding studies providing data on the diagnostic accuracy of SL in PHC. Primary outcome measures were the overall yield and sensitivity to detect unresectable disease. Secondary outcomes were the yield and sensitivity for recent studies (after 2010) and large study cohorts (≥100 patients) and specific (metastatic) lesions. Methodological quality of studies was assessed with the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool.

RESULTS

From 173 records, 12 studies including 832 patients met the inclusion criteria. The yield of SL in PHC varied from 6.4 to 45.0 % with a pooled yield of 24.4 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) 16.4-33.4]. Sensitivity to detect unresectable disease ranged from 31.6 to 75 % with a pooled sensitivity of 52.2 % (95 % CI 47.1-57.2). Sensitivity was highest for peritoneal metastases (80.7 %, 95 % CI 70.9-88.3). Subgroup analysis revealed that the yield and sensitivity tended to be lower for studies after 2010. Considerable heterogeneity was detected among the studies.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the pooled analyses suggest that one in four patients with potentially resectable PHC benefits from SL. Given considerable heterogeneity, a trend to lower yield in more recent studies and further improvement of preoperative imaging over time, the routine use of SL seems discouraging. Studies that identify predictors of unresectability, that enable selection of patients who will benefit the most from this procedure, are needed.

Comparative Analysis of Left- Versus Right-sided Resection in Klatskin Tumor Surgery: can Lesion Side be Considered a Prognostic Factor?

BACKGROUND

Achievement of negative margins is the goal of curative intent surgery for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. This study analyzed factors affecting survival in hilar cholangiocarcinoma patients and compared short- and long-term outcomes of left- and right-sided resections.

METHODS

One hundred and five patients out of 124 diagnosed with Klatskin tumors underwent major liver resection. Sixty-one patients underwent right-sided resections (right group), whereas 44 underwent left-sided resections (left group). Perioperative morbidity, perioperative mortality, and overall and disease-free survival were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

Morbidity and mortality were higher in the right group (59 and 8.2%, respectively) than in the left group (38.6 and 2.3%, respectively) (p < 0.005). The most frequent cause of death was liver failure. The R0 rate was 75.4% in the right and 61.4% in the left group. The 5-year survival rate was 42.8% in the right and 35.3% in the left group (p < 0.05). Patients in the left group more frequently developed local recurrence (87 vs. 69% in the right group).

CONCLUSION

Lesion side impacts outcome: right resections still cause significant morbidity related to extensive parenchymal sacrifice but are associated with better long-term survival because right hepatic pedicle resection enables better radicality compared with left resections.

Preoperative computed tomography assessment of skeletal muscle mass is valuable in predicting outcomes following hepatectomy for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Liver surgery for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC) is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated the impact of low skeletal muscle mass on short- and longterm outcomes following hepatectomy for PHC.

METHODS

Patients included underwent liver surgery for PHC between 1998 and 2013. Total skeletal muscle mass was measured at the level of the third lumbar vertebra using available preoperative computed tomography images. Sex-specific cut-offs for low skeletal muscle mass were determined by optimal stratification.

RESULTS

In 100 patients, low skeletal muscle mass was present in 42 (42.0%) subjects. The rate of postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo Grade III and higher) was greater in patients with low skeletal muscle mass (66.7% versus 48.3%; multivariable adjusted P = 0.070). Incidences of sepsis (28.6% versus 5.2%) and liver failure (35.7% versus 15.5%) were increased in patients with low skeletal muscle mass. In addition, 90-day mortality was associated with low skeletal muscle mass in univariate analysis (28.6% versus 8.6%; P = 0.009). Median overall survival was shorter in patients with low muscle mass (22.8 months versus 47.5 months; P = 0.014). On multivariable analysis, low skeletal muscle mass remained a significant prognostic factor (hazard ratio 2.02; P = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONS

Low skeletal muscle mass has a negative impact on postoperative mortality and overall survival following resection of PHC and should therefore be considered in preoperative risk assessment.