Long-term results following resectional surgery for Klatskin tumors. A twenty-year personal experience

The purpose of this study was to assess whether long-term survival in patients suffering from cholangiocarcinomas of the porta hepatis is significantly different when comparing results between local and extended procedures in order to justify increased mortality and morbidity following extensive resections.

From November 1991 to May 2000, 46 patients with Klatskin tumor were assigned to two groups. Group A patients (n = 25) had local resection and group B patients (n = 21) had local resection plus hemihepatectomy. On admission, all patients were drained via percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. In all patients we proceeded with an internal biliary drainage in order to anticipate jaundice and decompensated liver function. Internal biliary drainage was carried out 35-40 days before surgery. At the end of the operation an arterial catheter was introduced into the common hepatic artery for adjuvant locoregional targeting immunochemotherapy, which was initiated 20 days following surgery in all patients.

Overall survival for group A patients ranged from 14 months to 76 months (mean: 29). Disease-free survival ranged from 10-52 months (mean: 25). Five-year survival rate was 10%. Five-year disease-free survival was 0%. Overall survival for group B patients ranged from 28 months to 79 months (mean: 39). Disease-free survival ranged from 17-72 months (mean: 32). Five-year survival rate was 20%. Five-year disease-free survival rate was 10%.

Combined tumor and liver resection is associated with significantly better results when compared with those following tumor resection alone.