Extended cholecystectomy for carcinoma of the gallbladder

We evaluated extended cholecystectomy, wedge resection of the gallbladder bed, and regional lymphadenectomy for carcinoma of the gallbladder. Between 1971 and 1993 we treated 227 patients, 59 of whom were treated with simple cholecystectomy and 66 with extended cholecystectomy. The tumors were classified according to the stages proposed by the Japanese Society of Biliary Surgery. For Stage I and II disease extended cholecystectomy had a better result than simple cholecystectomy. For the extended cholecystectomy cases the cumulative 5-year survival rate was 78.9% for Stage I, 63.6% for Stage II, 44.4% for Stage III, and 8.3% for Stage IV. The survival of Stage I patients was excellent. For cases more advanced than Stage II (S3, N2, Hinf1, and Binf1), the prognosis was significantly worse. In these cases more aggressive surgery may be needed.