Carcinoma of the junction of the main hepatic ducts

Patients with carcinoma of the hepatic duct junction often present the surgeon with a difficult problem. If at all possible radical surgery may be performed either as a resection of the tumour and an anastomosis according to Roux-en-Y or a resection of the left or right hepatic lobe together with the obliterated hepatic duct or ducts. The present series consists of 17 patients treated for cancer of the hepatic duct junction during the period 1965-1974 with a follow-up period of at least five years. The surgical treatment given included a radical procedure in 8 cases, a palliative procedure in 7 cases and in 2 cases surgery of the hepatic ducts was not possible. Radical procedures included 4 patients with a resection of the left hepatic lobe and 4 patients with resection of the left and right hepatic ducts and anastomosis according to Roux. A mean survival time of 22.8 months was reached when a radical operation was attempted with a longest survival time of 8 years. A palliative procedure gave a mean survival time of 2.0 months. These figures indicate that a careful selection of patients for an attempt of radical surgery could be made since removal of the tumour gives a more effective palliation, often a longer survival time and an improvement of quality of life.