Peripheral cholangiocarcinoma associated with hepatolithiasis / 中国普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To understand the clinical features of peripheral cholangiocarcinoma (PC) developed against the background of hepatolithiasis. Methods Between 1995 and 2002, a total of 11 PC patients with definite history of hepatolithiasis were treated surgically in our hospital. The diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of this clinical entity were retrospectively analyzed. Results Peripheral cholangiocarcinoma occurred in 5 1% of patients with hepatolithiasis in this group and the tumor was located in the left lobe in 7 (64 7%) cases. All patients underwent laparotomy, with diagnosis established preoperatively in 3 (27 2%) cases and intraoperative diagnosis was missed in 2 (18 1%) cases. Radical resections were performed in only 3 (27 2%) cases. The overall operative morbidity and mortality were 72 7% and 9 1% respectively . Infection was the main postoperative complication. The postoperative 1 and 2 year survival rate was 33 3% and 11 1% respectively. Conclusions Cholangiocarcinoma may develope in patients with a history of hepatolithiasis. The prognosis of PC is still poor because of the difficulty to achieve early diagnosis and radical resection.