Prognostic Impact of Paraaortic Lymph Node Metastasis in Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Background Surgical resection in patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC) with paraaortic lymph node metastasis (PALNM) remains controversial. The objective of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of PALNM in resected EHCC. Methods The present retrospective study included 410 patients, including 16 patients with PALNM, who underwent surgical resection of EHCC between September 2002 and December 2018. These were compared to 9 patients in whom EHCC was not resected due to PALNM. The clinicopathological features and survival outcomes were investigated to identify the prognostic factors in resected EHCC. Results The overall survival in the resected patients with PALNM was significantly better than that in unresected patients (median survival time [MST] 33.7 vs. 16.7 months,p=0.009) and was not significantly worse than that of patients with regional lymph node metastasis (LNM) (MST 33.7 vs 36.0 months,p=0.278). The multivariate analysis identified age > 70 years, male sex, tumor location (perihilar), residual tumor status, histological grade, microscopic venous invasion, and regional LNM as independent prognostic factors. Conclusions There was no significant difference in survival between the resected patients with PALNM and patients with regional LNM, and PALNM was not a significant prognostic factor in the multivariate analysis. Surgical resection may be considered an acceptable approach for EHCC with PALNM in selected patients.

Automated summary

This study suggests that the overall survival of resected EHCC patients with PALNM is significantly better than unresected patients, and comparable to patients with regional lymph node metastasis. Several independent prognostic factors were identified through multivariate analysis.