Abstract
The results of a radical operation for carcinoma of the gallbladder were reviewed. The standard procedure consists of a cholecystectomy accompanied by adequate resection of the adjacent liver tissue, en bloc dissection of the regional lymphatics and resection of the extrahepatic bile duct. Between July 1981 and October 1991, 87 patients underwent radical operations. Sixty-one patients underwent standard operations or modified standard operations. The remaining 25 patients underwent extended operations (major hepatectomy in 6, pancreatoduodenectomy in 17 and major hepatectomy and pancreatoduodenectomy in 2). One patient died within 30 days after surgery. The cumulative 5 year survival rates for the patients in stages I, II, and III were 87.1% (n=11), 66.7% (n=19) and 31.2% (n=16), respectively. The longest survivor in stage IV (n=25) is still alive 51 months after surgery. The 5 year survival rate for the patients with no residual tumors (n=71) was 62.8%. We conclude that a radical operation based on the standard procedure according to the extent of carcinoma of the gallbladder can be performed.
