Histologic bile duct invasion by a mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Although curative surgical resection provides the best chance of long-term survival for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, the presence of bile duct invasion decreases postoperative survival rates in patients with mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. We carried out this study to determine a surgical strategy for patients with bile duct invasion of these tumors.

METHODS

Forty-one patients with mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma were classified as either having bile duct invasion ( n = 26) or not having bile duct invasion ( n = 15). Clinicopathologic findings, including postoperative outcomes, were compared between these two groups.

RESULTS

Perineural invasion, lymphatic invasion, and a positive resection margin were more frequent in patients with ductal invasion. Patients with ductal invasion had lower survival rates than those without ductal invasion.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraoperative frozen section examination of the bile duct stump to confirm a clear resection margin is required in patients with mass-forming tumors. Resection of the extrahepatic bile duct should be considered when tumor cells are identified at the surgical margin of the resected bile duct.