Prognostic value of jaundice in patients with gallbladder cancer by the AFC-GBC-2009 study group

Jaundice is frequent in patients with gallbladder cancer (GBC) and indicates advanced disease and, according to some teams, precludes routine operative exploration. The present study was designed to re-assess the prognostic value of jaundice in patients with GBC.

Patients with GBC operated from 1998 to 2008 were included in a retrospective multicenter study (AFC). The main outcome measured was the prognostic value of jaundice in patients with GBC focusing on morbidity, mortality and survival.

A total of 110 of 429 patients with GBC presented with jaundice, with a median age of 66 years (range: 31-88). The resectability rate was 45% (n=50) and the postoperative mortality and morbidity rates were 16% and 62%, respectively; 71% had R0 resection and 46% had lymph node involvement. Overall 1- and 3-year survivals of the 110 jaundiced patients were 41% and 15%, respectively. For the 50 resected patients, 1- and 3-year survivals were 48% and 19%, respectively (real 5-year survivors n=4) which were significantly higher than that of the 60 non-resected patients (31%, 0%, p=0.001). Among the resected jaundiced patients, T-stage, N and M status were found to have a significant impact on survival. R0 resection did not increase the overall survival in all resected patients, but R0 increased median survival in the subgroup of N0 patients (20 months versus 6 months, p=0.01).

This series confirms that jaundice is a poor prognostic factor. However, the presence of jaundice does not preclude resection, especially in highly selected patients (N0).