Wound recurrence from gallbladder cancer after open cholecystectomy

Background. Reports of port site recurrences from gallbladder cancer after laparoscopic cholecystectomy have raised considerable concern as to whether the laparoscopic technique implies an increased risk of metastatic disease . In a previous study of gallbladder cancer and laparoscopic cholecystectom y, we reported a frequency of 16% Port site metastases. The purpose of the Present study was to determine the frequency of wound metastases from gallb ladder cancer after open cholecystectomy. Methods, The registers from the Swedish Oncological Centers and the Nationa l Board of Health and Welfare were checked for reported cases of gallbladde r cancer and surgical classification codes for open cholecystectomy from 19 91 to 1994. The study included all 8 university and 24 county hospitals in Sweden. The files from all patients with gallbladder cancer who had an open cholecystectomy were retrospectively reviewed. Results. The study included 270 patients who had a cholecystectomy, of whic h 215 were classified as open and 55 as laparoscopic. Of the 215 patients, II patients were excluded because of an incorrect or deficient histopatholo gic or surgical classification. In 186 patients (91%), sufficient data were obtained for follow-up. Twelve patients (6.5%) had wound metastases from t heir gallbladder cancer. All patients with wound metastases died with a med ian survival of 10 months (range, 3 to 65 months). Conclusions. Wound metastases from gallbladder cancer after open cholecyste ctomy may be more common than previously assumed.