Clinicopathological factors predicting outcome after resection of mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Background: The prognosis for patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma differs according to macroscopic type. The identification of clinical and pathological features that predict outcome in patients with mass-forming in trahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is required in order to determine optimal sur gical strategies for patients with this type of tumour. Methods: The details of 35 patients with resected mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas were analysed retrospectively. Univariate analysis of potential prognostic factors was performed. Results: The cumulative survival rate at 1, 3 and 5 years after operation w as 58, 33 and 33 per cent respectively. Patients with stage II tumours had a better outcome than those with advanced stage tumours. By univariate anal ysis, lymphatic invasion, lymph node metastasis, intrahepatic satellite les ions and microscopic resection margin involvement were found to be highly s ignificant variables and were identified as possible risk factors for a poo r outcome after operation. Conclusion: When frozen-section examination of lymph nodes reveals negative nodal metastasis, extensive anatomical hepatic resection is indicated for mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas. Intraoperative frozen-sectio n examination of the resection margin to confirm the absence of cancer cell s is recommended.