Prognostic factors after surgical resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Aims. - To evaluate short and long-term results in 23 patients resected for hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Methods. - Between January 2001 and December 2003, 23 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma were resected and considered for retrospective analysis. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed on several clinicopathological variables in order to evaluate the short-term results. Median follow-up was 11 months (interquartile range 2-20 months). Results. - A major liver resection was performed in 19 out of 23 patients (82%): a right hepatectomy extended to segment 4 in 5 patients and a left hepatectomy in 14 patients. Resection of the caudate lobe was performed in 7 patients (30%). No hospital mortality occurred. Overall morbidity rate was 43%. The 1-year survival rate was 63.2% with a median survival of 19 months. Tumor recurrence appeared in 12 patients (52%). Low preoperative albumin level (P = 0.006), presence of positive resection margin (P = 0.03) and T-stage (P = 0.02) were found to be related to a worse median survival. On multivariate analysis, only the preoperative albumin level and the presence of positive margin were confirmed as independent prognostic factors. Conclusion. - Aggressive surgical approach remains the only potentially curative therapy for the hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Low preoperative albumin level, presence of positive resection margin and T-stage resulted as factors influencing the prognosis after resection.