Comparative clinicopathological study of resected intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in northeast Thailand and Japan.

Northeast Thailand has a very high incidence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), which is closely linked to infestation by the liver fluke, whereas the etiology of ICC in Japan remains to be clarified. This study compared the clinicopathological features, the expression of p53 and c-erbB-2 proteins, and the proliferative activity of ICC in 19 Thai and 23 Japanese patients with ICC who were treated by hepatic resection. The average age of the Thai patients (55.8 years) was lower than that of the Japanese (61.3 years). All Thai patients presented with symptoms, whereas 8 Japanese patients were asymptomatic. There were no significant differences in preoperative liver function test values. Tumors were less likely to be located in the right lobe in the Japanese (34.8%) than in the Thai patients (63.2%). Peribiliary fibrosis and adenomatous hyperplasia in noncancerous hepatic tissues were much more frequently found in the Thai patients (P = 0.0010; P<0.0001). No significant differences in the expression of p53 protein or c-erbB-2 protein were found between the two series of patients, but proliferative activity, evaluated on the basis of mean MIB1 labeling index, was significantly higher in the Thai patients (P<0.001). The present study suggested a higher proliferative activity of ICC in Thai patients than in Japanese patients.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in Thailand.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is defined as adenocarcinoma originating from bile ductules and segmental and lobar intrahepatic ducts. Four types of surgical pathology have been identified in the Khon Kaen endemic area in Thailand: peripheral, type I; intermediate, type II; central, type III; and diffuse, type IV. We report our experience with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with emphasis on the surgical pathology, operative procedure, and associated survival time. We reviewed the records of patients treated for cholangiocarcinoma at Srinagarind Hospital from January 1, 1992 to February 28, 1997. There was a total of 411 patients, and 138 were intrahepatic and non-jaundiced. Tumors in the proximity of the gray zone i.e., portal, periportal with jaundice, were excluded. Patient profiles, surgical pathology, operative procedure, postoperative morbidity, and mortality were recorded. The data were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Of the 138 patients with intrahepatic disease who were non-jaundiced, 116 had type I, 10 had type II-III, and 12 had type IV. The wear ages of the patients were: 53.0, SE 9.2 years in type I; 57.1, SE 4.6 years in type II-III, and 50.2, SE 9.2 years in type IV. The male-to-female ratios in the three groups were 1.4 : 1, 1.5 : 1, and 5 : 1, respectively. The mean survival times in the three groups were 556, SE 63 days 374, SE 149 days and 97, SE 35 days. Most of the surgical procedures were tumor excisions (108/138). Right hepatectomy was performed in 63 patients, extended right hepatectomy in 8, left hepatectomy in 18, and extended left hepatectomy in 1. Palliative procedures were performed in the other patients because tumors were in both lobes. The mean survival time was 582 days (SE, 75), for right lobe surgery; 458 days (SE, 89) for left lobe surgery; and 127 days (SE, 58) for the other procedures. Mean survival time was 1039 days (SE, 201) in tumor stage III, 773 days (SE, 123) in stage IVa, and 382 days (SE, 60) in stage IVb. There were no significant differences in survival time according to age or sex. The results of surgery in type I and type II-III were better than the results in type IV. Survival time after right hepatectomy was better than that after left hepatectomy, although without statistical significance, but survival time was significantly better after both operations than after palliative procedures. The results of surgery according to pathological staging showed that survival time in stage III was better than that in either stage IVa or IVb, but only the difference from stage IVb was significant.

Cholangiocarcinoma in north east Thailand. A hospital-based study.

The population of Northeast Thailand has one of the highest known rates of cholangiocarcinoma (cancer of the bile ducts). We sought firstly to obtain an estimate of the frequency of hospital-based diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen. All pathology, ultrasound and in-patient and out-patient records were searched for cases diagnosed in tertiary hospitals in a random calendar month in 1988. A total of 203 persons from various parts of northeastern Thailand were newly-diagnosed in the two hospitals, 75 of whom resided in Khon Kaen province. We estimated the minimal age-standardised annual incidence rate in this province to be 135.4 per 100,000 among males and 43.0 per 100,000 among females (world standard). Truncated standardised incidence rates (ages 35-64 years only) were 334.2 and 104.3 per 100,000 for males and females respectively. Secondly we aimed to assess the feasibility of secondary prevention by early clinical diagnosis. However, the symptoms and signs observed were typically non-specific and associated with advanced disease in patients with cholangiocarcinoma who presented to hospital. Primary preventive measures appear to be the key to decreasing the mortality from this disease.

Experience of non-jaundiced cholangiocarcinoma.

In an endemic areas of the NE region of Thailand the "liver mass" of non-jaundiced cholangiocarcinoma is another major form of clinical presentation in 14%. Between December 1983 and December 1984, twenty-nine cases of such a presentation were studied. All cases were submitted to exploration and primary tumor removal whenever possible, regardless of the severity of the pathology. The results of this palliative surgical procedure in this non-jaundiced presentation are far better as compared with the jaundiced cholangiocarcinoma, both in terms of quality of life and survival time. Among the twenty-nine cases, 14 died during the first postoperative year, 5 during the second, and 5 during the third, the remaining 5 surviving the third year and still alive and well at the end of the fifth year, in December 1988. Specific tumor markers for early detection are needed to improve surgical results.

A high frequency of hepatobiliary disease and suspected cholangiocarcinoma associated with heavy Opisthorchis viverrini infection in a small community in north-east Thailand.

A group of 87 adults from a small village in north-east Thailand was chosen to undergo ultrasound investigation based on their intensity of infection with the liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini, or clinical status (history of jaundice, current hepatomegaly). From this group, 8 cases of suspected early cholangiocarcinoma were found, and the diagnostic features of 6 of the 8 were confirmed by computerized tomography scan and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. In addition, several cases of mild gall-bladder disease, chronic cholecystitis, cholelithiasis and parenchymal liver disease were detected. A highly significant positive relationship between the intensity of liver fluke worm burden and the severity of biliary tract disease within individuals is reported. These results indicate that Opisthorchis is associated with moderate to severe hepatobiliary disease in a considerable proportion of infected individuals.