Surgical Outcome and Prognostic Factors of Primary Gallbladder Carcinoma

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Cancer of the gallbladder, which is the eighth most common malignancy of the digestive system in Korea, is almost always associated with an unfavorable prognosis, and the clinical outcome has not improved much over the past couple of decades. This study was intended to examine our surgical experience and to evaluate the prognostic significance of the clinicopathological factors for a primary carcinoma of the gallbladder. METHODS: The data of 202 patients with gallbladder carcinomas operated on at our surgical department over a period of 10 years from May 1994 to Dec. 2003 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Overall, the 5-year survival was 46.8% with the median survival of 58.8 months. The histopathological type and grade, TNM stage, stage grouping, symptom, CA 19-9 level, and jaundice were significant prognostic factors. Among the 85 patients with T2 cancer, the outcome after a resection was better than that after simple cholecystectomy. CONCLUSION: A complete tumor resection and no lymph node involvement are associated with a good prognosis. The long-term survival may be achieved by an early diagnosis with a curative, radical resection. Additionally, a radical resection may be beneficial for patients with a T2 gallbladder carcinoma.