Abstract
Although the outcome after resection for gallbladder carcinoma is generally considered unfavorable, radical resection provides chance for cure for patients with pathologic T2 (pT2) tumor. The incidence of lymph node metastasis is high (around 50%) in pT2 gallbladder carcinoma. Thus, lymph node dissection is essential in the surgical management of pT2 gallbladder carcinoma. Since 1982, in the author's department, extended radical cholecystectomy (modified Glenn operation), which consists of a cholecystectomy, wedge resection of the gallbladder bed, bile duct resection, and en bloc regional lymph node dissection, has been adopted as a standard resectional procedure for pT2 gallbladder carcinoma. We have also performed pancreaticoduodenectomy in selected patients with marked nodal involvement around the head of the pancreas. In this article, the author reviews the current status of radical surgery for pT2 gallbladder carcinoma, in order to define surgical strategy for this disease.
