Surgery for hilar cholangiocarcinoma: feasibility and results of parenchyma-conserving liver resection.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Major liver resection has improved the resectability rate of hilar cholangiocarcinomas, but morbidity and mortality may be significant. The aim of this study was to assess the value of parenchyma-conserving liver resection (resection of bile duct with liver segments I and IVb; PCLR) in hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. Factors influencing survival following three types of operations were studied by univariate and multivariate analyses. The three types of operations were: (1) local resection of the bile duct alone (LR); (2) major liver resection (resection of three or more segments, hepatic resection; HR), and (3) PCLR.

RESULTS

Forty-six patients (21 males, 25 females; age range 35-77 years, mean age 57, median age 57 years) underwent surgery. There were 11 LR, 12 HR, and 23 PCLR procedures. There were 3 deaths (mortality 6.5%). The mortality was higher following HR (3 out of 12; 25%) than following LR or PCLR (0 out of 34; p = 0.01). Survival was longer following curative resection (median 27 months) than after palliative resection (median 15 months; p = 0.001). Lymph nodal and perineural involvement were adverse factors on univariate, but not on multivariate analysis. PCLR produced better survival (median 29 months) as compared with LR (median 15 months) or HR (median 22.5 months; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

PCLR is applicable to selected patients with Bismuth-Corlette type III disease without major vascular involvement and produces survival rates comparable to those of LR and HR. PCLR may help avoid major liver resections in some patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma.