Introduction: Staging systems have been developed to predict survival after resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Notably, they have not been validated nor compared for relative predictive ability.
Methods: Forty-two patients underwent resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma and have been followed through a prospectively collected database. The tumors were staged using the Bismuth-Corlette, Blumgart, and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) systems, and a significant relationship with survival was sought.
Results: Eleven patients were treated by extrahepatic biliary resection alone, while 31 required extrahepatic biliary resections with in-continuity hepatic resections. All patients underwent adjuvant therapy. To date, 30 patients have died with a mean survival time of 30 months +/- 35.0 (SD). Twelve patients are alive with a mean survival of 90 months +/- 61.8. By regression analysis, none of the staging systems had a significant relationship with survival (Bismuth: P = .64; Blumgart: P = .66; AJCC: P = .31).
Conclusions: Most patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma require in-continuity hepatic resections. Survival after resection promotes an aggressive approach, with cure in as many as 30%. Staging systems should not impact the decision to operate or postoperative management, as all tumors should be aggressively resected and all patients should receive adjuvant treatment.