Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: primary liver resection and aggressive multimodal treatment of recurrence significantly prolong survival

Ann Surg. 2010 Jul;252(1):107-14. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0b013e3181e462e6.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the results of surgical therapy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), the incidence and the management of recurrence, and to analyze the change in approach during 2 different periods.

Design: Retrospective study.

Patients and methods: Patient and tumor characteristics, and overall and disease-free survival were analyzed in a series of 72 consecutive patients who underwent hepatic resection for ICC. Several factors likely to influence survival after resection were evaluated. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the year of operation (before and after 1999). Management of recurrence and survival after recurrence were also analyzed.

Results: The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 62% and 48%, whereas the 3- and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 30% and 25%, respectively. The median survival time was 57.1 months. Patient and histologic characteristics before and after 1999 were similar. Survival was significantly better among patients operated after 1999, who were node-negative, did not receive blood transfusion, and underwent adjuvant chemotherapy. The overall recurrence rates before and after 1999 were comparable (66.6% and 50%, P = 0.49). The most frequent site of recurrence was the liver. A significantly large number of patients received treatment for recurrence after 1999 (81.5%) compared with the first period (8.3%). The overall 3-year survival rate after recurrence was 46%. After 1999, there was a significant improvement in 3-year survival after recurrence (56%) compared with patients operated before 1999 (0%, P = 0.004); the median survival time from the diagnosis of recurrence increased from 20 months to 66 months in the second group.

Conclusions: Although recurrence rate represents a frequent problem in ICC, an aggressive approach to recurrence can significantly prolong survival.

MeSH terms

  • Bile Duct Neoplasms / mortality
  • Bile Duct Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic*
  • Blood Transfusion
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Cholangiocarcinoma / mortality
  • Cholangiocarcinoma / surgery*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Hepatectomy*
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Survival Rate
  • Time Factors