ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Recurrent pyogenic cholangitis (RPC) is a known risk factor for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), whether it represents a poor prognostic factor remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the post-hepatectomy oncological outcomes of patients with ICC and coexisting RPC. METHOD: A retrospective analysis with propensity score matching (PSM) was performed for comparison between ICC patient with and without RPC. RESULTS: There were 143 patients with ICC with a median follow-up of 21 months. RPC was diagnosed in 18% of patients. The time from RPC diagnosis to ICC diagnosis was 137(47-481) months. The 3-year disease-free (DFS) and overall survival for the whole population was 34% and 43% respectively. Preoperative child score, elevated carcinoembryonic antigen, presence of microvascular invasion, multiple tumours, presence of postoperative complications and RPC were independent factors for DFS and OS. After PSM, 60 ICC patients who did not have RPC were compared with 20 ICC patients with RPC. Patients with RPC had significantly worse median DFS (10 vs 23 months, P = 0.020) and OS (15 vs 45 months, P = 0.004) when compared to the patients without RPC. CONCLUSION: RPC represents a poor prognostic factor affecting outcomes after hepatectomy for patients with ICC.
Subject(s)
Bile Duct Neoplasms/surgery , Cholangiocarcinoma/surgery , Cholangitis/complications , Hepatectomy , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Bile Duct Neoplasms/complications , Bile Duct Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Cholangiocarcinoma/complications , Cholangiocarcinoma/diagnostic imaging , Cholangitis/diagnosis , Disease-Free Survival , Female , Hepatectomy/adverse effects , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Postoperative Complications/etiology , Propensity Score , Recurrence , Retrospective Studies , Risk Assessment , Risk Factors , Time FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study aims to assess if radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has any oncological superiority over transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) on post-hepatectomy recurrence. METHODOLOGY: From 2002 to 2011, 60.15% of 823 patients developed recurrence after hepatectomy for Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). 102 patients with recurrence underwent RFA (n = 42) or TACE (n = 60) for tumor size ≤5 cm and number of lesion ≤3 when tumors were not resectable or transplantable. Those with renal impairment, portal vein thrombosis and poor liver reserve were excluded. Primary outcome was overall survival, which was determined using log-rank test and Kaplan Meier plots performed. Categorical data were analyzed using Chi-square test and continuous variable were analyzed using Mann-U Whitney test. RESULTS: Demographics and primary tumor characteristics were similar in both groups (p > 0.05). Overall survival after initial hepatectomy and salvage treatment for recurrence was similar (p > 0.05) in both groups with 5-year OS after salvage treatment for RFA and TACE at 24.1% and 25.7%, respectively. For patients with second recurrence after salvage treatment, an interchangeable treatment strategy of RFA and TACE conferred a better survival outcome than a stand-alone treatment with RFA or TACE (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: RFA and TACE may be equally effective for intrahepatic recurrence after hepatectomy when tumor size is ≤5 cm and ≤3 lesion when re-resection or salvage transplantation is not considered feasible.