Clinicopathologic features in patients with long-term survival following resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: As the overall prognosis for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is extremely poor, it is important to identify specific clinicopathologic features associated with long-term survival after hepatic resection for this tumor.

METHODOLOGY: Of 54 patients who underwent hepatic resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, 9 survived more than 5 years after surgery (survival group), while 28 patients died of recurrence within 3 years of surgery (early recurrence group). Clinicopathologic features were compared retrospectively between groups.

RESULTS

Although clinical features in patients with long-term survival were similar to those in patients with early recurrence, lymphatic invasion, lymph node metastasis, intrahepatic metastasis and tumor involving the resection margin were more frequent in patients with early recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatic resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma without lymph node metastasis or intrahepatic metastasis offers hope for long-term survival.