Critical overview of resection for Bismuth-Corlette type IV perihilar cholangiocarcinoma

Background Current standard treatment for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) is surgical resection. Bismuth-Corlette (BC) type IV pCCA is accepted as an unresectable disease. In the present study, the results of non-transplant surgical approaches in patients with BC type IV pCCA were examined. Methods Medical records of consecutive patients with BC type IV pCCA between 2010 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were subdivided according to operation type. Postoperative survival rates were compared. Results Hemihepatectomy with caudate lobe and extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) resection was performed in 15 patients and only EHBD resection was performed in 10 patients. Ten of the cases were found to be unresectable at the stage of laparotomy. Median follow-up was 41.3 (24.8-57.9) months. Overall survival rate for all 35 patients was 56.4% at 1 year, 32.2% at 2 years, and 16.1% at 3 years. When survivals were compared according to operation type, 1, 2, and 3-year survivals were 80%, 57.1% and 42.9% for the hepatectomy group; 55.6%, 44.4% and 11.1% for the EHBD resection group; 75%, 0% and 0% in laparotomy-only group, respectively (p = 0.13). The best survival rates were obtained in patients with pCCA who underwent hepatectomy and were lymph node negative, 100% for 1 year, 66.7 for 2 years and 50% for 3 years. Conclusion It is difficult to achieve high survival rates in BC type IV pCCA. However, these patients mostly benefit from resective treatments. Acceptable survival rates can be achieved, especially in the R0N0 patient group.

Automated summary

This study retrospectively examined the outcomes of non-transplant surgical approaches in patients with Bismuth-Corlette (BC) type IV perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA). The results showed that patients who underwent hepatectomy and had negative lymph nodes achieved the best survival rates. However, achieving high survival rates remains challenging in this patient population.