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.