ABSTRACT
Objective To study the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of hepatolithiasis combined with cholangiocarcinoma. Methods The clinical, pathological and follow-up data of 17 cases of hepatolithiasis combined with cholangiocarcinoma were retrospectively analysed. Results The results showed that the incidence of cholangiocarcinoma in hepatolithiasis was 5% in this series. 17.6% of the patients were diagnosed as cholangiocarcinoma preoperatively. Tumor occurring in intrahepatic ducts was 88.2% and in hepatic porta ducts 11.8%. Nine cases were well-differentiated adenocarcinomas. Only 7(41.2%) cases were radically resected and their average survival time was 26.0 months. Eight(47.1%) patients underwent internal drainage with average survival time 12.4 months. 2(11.7%) cases subject to external drainage with survival time 3.6 months. Conclusions If patients with hepatolithiasis have a long history of recurrent cholangitis, weight-loss in a short period, progressive jaundice or intractable abdominal pain, the possiblility of combined with cholangiocarcinoma should be considered. Resection of the tumor has a better prognosis than that of tumor unresected; and the prognosis of internal drainage is better than that of external drainage.