Prognostic significance of tumor DNA content in carcinoma of the hepatic duct confluence.

Carcinoma of hepatic duct confluence was characterized by Klatskin, as a small, relatively slow-growing and sharply localized tumor. Sixty consecutive patients with carcinoma of the hepatic duct confluence were surgically resected in our Department between January 1984 and December 1996. All histological section of each patient included in the study were reviewed. The nuclear content was measured. Twenty-nine patient (48%) had diploid tumors and 31 (51%) were found to have aneuploid tumors. Survival of patients with a diploid tumor was significantly longer than those with aneuploid tumors. Our results indicate that DNA ploidy is an important, prognostic factor of carcinoma of the hepatic duct confluence.