Aggressive surgical resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma of the left-side predominance: radicality and safety of left-sided hepatectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinicopathologic outcomes in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC) after left-sided hepatectomy (L-H). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: L-H is indicated as radical surgery for HC, predominantly involving left hepatic duct. However, several reports have demonstrated that L-H often results in tumor-positive margin and unfavorable prognosis compared with right-sided hepatectomy (R-H).
METHODS: A total of 224 patients with HC underwent surgical resection with curative intent at our institution: L-H for Bismuth-Corlette (B-C) type IIIb tumors in 88 patients (39.3%) including 75 left hemihepatectomies and 13 left trisectionectomies, and R-H mainly for B-C type IIIa and IV tumors in 84 patients (37.5%). In this study, clinicopathologic outcomes and perioperative morbidity and mortality rates after L-H were investigated and compared with those after R-H.
RESULTS: Histologically negative margin (R0) resection was achieved in 56 cases (63.6%) with L-H, similar to the results for R-H (58/84, 69.1%). However, the R0 resection rate in L-H cases with portal vein (PV) resection was lower (11/25, 44.0%), and various types of PV reconstruction were required. Proximal ductal stumps and excisional surface at periductal structures were the most common sites of positive margins. However, when curative resection was achieved, 5-year survival was comparable to that in R-H cases. Furthermore, lower mortality was noted in L-H cases, even with left trisectionectomy. Multivariate analysis indicated curability and hepatic artery resection as independent prognostic factors.
CONCLUSIONS: Since L-H is a safe procedure and represents the only curative resectional option for type IIIb tumor, aggressive surgical resection should be performed even in cases with PV involvement, if R0 resection is possible.