Gallbladder adenocarcinoma: evaluation of the prognostic factors in 100 resectable cases in Brazil.

BACKGROUND

In spite its relative rarity, gallbladder adenocarcinoma is a neoplasm who presents an aggressive biologic behavior. The single curative treatment has been radical surgical resection with free margin. Prognostic factors has been studied because are very important to identify long-term survival patients which may benefit of aggressive surgical resection.

AIM

To evaluate long-term prognostic predictors from gallbladder cancer.

METHODS

The medical records of all patients that presented confirmed histological diagnosis of gallbladder adenocarcinoma operated over a 14 year period were identified and retrospectively reviewed. Uni and multivariate analysis was done.

RESULTS

Total sample was 100 patients. Median age was 71 years (34 to 93). There were 17 men and 83 women. Lesion distribution according to TNM stage system was: I (n=22), II (n=59), III (n=6), IV (n=4) and unknown (n=9). Fifty two patients underwent radical resection (R0) while 48 to palliative surgery (R1-R2). Overall major morbidity was 14%, while postoperative surgical mortality rate (30th postoperative day) was 12 %. Five-year survival rate was 28% while median of survival was 10 months. Multivariate analysis identified six prognostic factors: T stage, serum level of CA 19.9, gallbladder perforation, lymphatic embolization, surgical historical cohort (after 2002) and hilar lymphadenectomy.

CONCLUSION

Prognostic factors were: T stage, serum level of CA 19.9, gallbladder perforation, lymphatic embolization, surgical historical cohort and hilar lymphadenectomy.