Surgical strategy for biliary tract cancers including widespread perihilar cholangiocarcinoma

Abstract

The 5-year survival rate for patients with ampullary cancer (n=85), gallbladder cancer (n=95), distal cholangiocarcinoma (n=94), perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (n=54), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (n=47), and widespread cholangiocarcinoma (n=17) was 65%, 60%, 52%, 27%, 44%, and 12%, respectively. Patients with ampullary cancer showed favorable survival. In contrast, perihilar cholangiocarcinoma and widespread cholangiocarcinoma were associated with poor survival. Better survival results would be achieved by margin-negative R0 resection for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma or widespread cholangiocarcinoma.