Analysis of prognostic factors after surgery for stage III and IV gallbladder cancer

Aim. Survival and prognostic factors were analysed in patients who had undergone surgical resection with curative intention with the aim of identifying groups of patient with stage III and IV gallbladder cancer on the TNM classification who might benefit from surgery. Methods. Thirty-seven patients with advanced gallbladder cancer were studied, the cumulative survival rate for each group was calculated for each pTNM factor. Results. The 5-year survival rates in the stage III patients were 83.3%, while those for the stage IVA patients were 46.2%, and those for the stage IVB patients 16.7%. Conclusions. In patients with invasion of adjacent organs, including the liver and gastrointestinal tract, and rated as pT3 or pT4, extended surgery excising the invaded tissue may be justified. In patients with pN2 lymph-node metastasis, even without adjacent organ invasion, radical surgery may not achieve a good outcome. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.