Pathophysiology of severe gallstone pancreatitis: A new paradigm.

Severe gallstone pancreatitis (GSP) refractory to maximum conservative therapy has wide clinical variations, and its pathophysiology remains controversial. This Editorial aimed to investigate the pathophysiology of severe disease based on Opie's theories of obstruction, the common channel, and duodenal reflux and describe its types. Severe GSP might be a hybrid disease with pathology polarized between acute cholangitis with mild pancreatitis (biliary type) and necrotizing pancreatitis uncomplicated with biliary tract disease (pancreatic type), in which hepatobiliary and pancreatic lesion severity is inversely related to the presence or absence of impacted ampullary stones. Severe GSP is caused by stones that are persistently impacted at the ampulla with biliopancreatic obstruction (biliary type), and probably, stones that are either temporarily lodged at the duodenal orifice or passed into the duodenum, thereby permitting reflux of bile or possible duodenal contents into the pancreas (pancreas type). When the status of the stones and the presence or absence of impacted ampullary stones with biliopancreatic obstruction are determined, the clinical course and outcome can be predicted. Gallstones represent the main cause of acute pancreatitis globally, and clinicians are expected to encounter GSP more often. Awareness of the etiology and pathogenesis of severe disease is mandatory.

Proposal of the term "gallstone cholangiopancreatitis" to specify gallstone pancreatitis that needs urgent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Opie's "pancreatic duct obstruction" and "common channel" theories are generally accepted as explanations of the mechanisms involved in gallstone acute pancreatitis (AP). Common channel elucidates the mechanism of necrotizing pancreatitis due to gallstones. For pancreatic duct obstruction, the clinical picture of most patients with ampullary stone impaction accompanied by biliopancreatic obstruction is dominated by life-threatening acute cholangitis rather than by AP, which clouds the understanding of the severity of gallstone AP. According to the revised Atlanta classification, it is difficult to consider these clinical features as indications of severe pancreatitis. Hence, the term "gallstone cholangiopancreatitis" is suggested to define severe disease complicated by acute cholangitis due to persistent ampullary stone impaction. It incorporates the terms "cholangitis" and "gallstone pancreatitis." "Cholangitis" refers to acute cholangitis due to cholangiovenous reflux through the foci of extensive hepatocyte necrosis reflexed by marked elevation in transaminase levels caused by persistent ampullary obstruction. "Gallstone pancreatitis" refers to elevated pancreatic enzyme levels consequent to pancreatic duct obstruction. This pancreatic lesion is characterized by minimal or mild inflammation. Gallstone cholangiopancreatitis may be valuable in clinical practice for specifying gallstone AP that needs urgent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with endoscopic sphincterotomy.

Positive surgical margins in surgically treated unifocal and multifocal IPMN.

INTRODUCTION: Although treatment methods for the positive margins of surgically treated intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are established, the significance of the positive surgical margins remains unclear. We aimed to clarify the risk factors of the positive margins and their impact on the recurrence of cystic lesions. METHODS: Fifty-five surgically treated IPMN cases occurring at the Ogaki Municipal Hospital from 2004 to 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Out of the 55 IPMN patients who underwent pancreatectomy, positive surgical margins were found in 16 cases. Most of the positive surgical margin cases were found to be a multifocal IPMN; specifically, 9 out of 19 were a multifocal IPMN case, and 7 out of 36 were a unifocal IPMN case (47.4% and 19.4%, respectively, p = 0.030). Recurrences of cystic lesions in the remnant pancreases were found in 7 cases; 4 out of 16 cases were in the positive margin group, and 3 out of 39 were in the negative margin group (25.0% and 7.7%, respectively, p = 0.080). While a positive margin was a significant risk factor in unifocal IPMN (p = 0.031), it was not in multifocal IPMN (p = 0.90). CONCLUSION: Positive surgical margins are frequently found in multifocal IPMNs and might include false positive margins.

Simultaneous resection for colorectal cancer and synchronous liver metastases.

PURPOSES: The correct timing of hepatectomy in patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases is unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical value of simultaneous resection (SR) for patients with colorectal cancer and synchronous liver metastases. METHODS: Between January 2006 and December 2013, 158 patients underwent resection of primary colorectal cancer and liver metastases. Sixty-three patients possessed synchronous colorectal liver metastases. Of those with synchronous colorectal liver metastases, 41 patients (65 %) underwent SR, and 22 (35 %) underwent delayed resection (DR). The clinicopathologic and operative data and the surgical outcomes of the patients in the SR and DR groups were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The type of primary/liver resection, liver resection time, total blood loss volume, R0 resection rate, and morbidity rate were similar between the two groups. The SR group was associated with a shorter total postoperative hospital stay (21 vs 32 days, p < 0.001). However, the overall survival rate was similar between the two groups (3-year survival, 65.6 % in the SR group versus 66.8 % in the DR group, p = 0.054). CONCLUSION: Simultaneous resection of colorectal cancer and synchronous liver metastases is associated with a comparable morbidity rate and shorter hospital stay, even when following rectal resection and major hepatectomy.

Benefit of extended radical surgery for incidental gallbladder carcinoma.

PURPOSE: We aimed to define the benefit of extended radical surgery for incidental gallbladder carcinoma (IGC), the most appropriate treatment for which remains controversial. METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively the management strategies and prognoses of 28 patients with IGC treated in our hospital. RESULTS: After initial cholecystectomy, 10, 5, and 13 of the 28 patients were found to have T1a (m), T1b (mp), and T2 (ss) disease, respectively. The patients with T1a disease (T1a group) had a good prognosis; however, 9 of the 18 patients with T1b or T2 disease required additional S4a + 5 segmentectomy of the liver and bile duct resection (extended radical surgery; re-resected group), while 9 did not undergo additional treatment because of their poor general condition (no-treatment group). The re-resected group had a favorable prognosis, with an 88.9% 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) rate, which was significantly better than that of the non-treatment group (30.5%, p = 0.015) and comparable to that of the T1a group (90.0%, p = 0.97). Examination of the re-resected specimens revealed residual disease in 44% (4/9). CONCLUSION: Additional extended radical surgery improved the prognosis of patients with IGC, suggesting that there is curative potential in most cases.

Hepatectomy of segment 4b and 5 with extrahepatic bile duct resection for pT2 gallbladder carcinoma is valid: a single-institution result.

The results of surgical treatment for T2 gallbladder carcinoma are equivocal, while the precise preoperative TNM staging and localization of gallbladder carcinoma are difficult. The aim of this study was to report the validity of segment 4b and 5 (S4b+5) hepatectomy with extrahepatic bile duct resection for these tumors. We reviewed 30 patients with pT2 gallbladder cancer who underwent S4b+5 hepatectomy with extrahepatic bile duct resection. The median number of lymph nodes retrieved in the S4b+5 hepatectomy group was 11 (0-23) nodes, and lymph node metastasis was observed in 9 of 30 (30%) cases. Although all surgical margins were macroscopically negative, 4 of the 30 patients (13%) had pathologically positive margins. The overall survival rate of patients was 85.1% at 5 years. Of the 30 patients with S4b+5 hepatectomy, surgical margin alone was analyzed as a prognostic factor in univariate and multivariate analysis. The survival rate was comparable between the tumor on the hepatic side and peritoneal side (P = 0.856). Nine patients with additional S4b+5 hepatectomy after simple cholecystectomy because of incidental diagnosis of gallbladder cancer also had comparable survival compared to the remaining 21 patients with simultaneous S4b+5 hepatectomy (P = 0.624). S4b+5 hepatectomy with extrahepatic bile duct resection could be good treatment modality for T2 gallbladder cancers because precise preoperative diagnosis of tumor depth, location, and lymph node metastasis for these tumors is difficult.

One-Stage Colectomy with Intraoperative Colonic Irrigation for Acute Left-Sided Malignant Colonic Obstruction.

BACKGROUND: One-stage colectomy with intraoperative colonic irrigation (OCICI) may be useful in early resolution of acute left-sided malignant colonic obstruction (ALMCO). However, the clinical benefit of this technique has not been fully investigated. METHODS: Between January 2007 and July 2014, 451 patients underwent left hemicolectomy or sigmoidectomy for colon cancer, of whom 25 underwent OCICI for ALMCO. The medical records of the patients who underwent OCICI for ALMCO were compared to 174 medical records of a control population (without ALMCO) who were matched for tumor characteristics. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in regard to age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status, location of tumor, preoperative CEA levels, and previous abdominal surgeries. The OCICI for ALMCO group was associated with a longer operation time (153 ± 33 vs. 111 ± 47 min, p < 0.001). However, no significant differences were found in patient morbidity, the duration of the postoperative hospital stay, or the tumor pathology between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that OCICI for ALMCO did not increase the risk of postoperative morbidity in patients with left-sided colon cancer. CONCLUSION: OCICI for ALMCO did not increase the rate of morbidity or prolong the hospital stay duration compared to treatment of a control population.

En bloc resection of the hepatoduodenal ligament for advanced biliary malignancy.

BACKGROUND: En bloc resection of the hepatoduodenal ligament (HDL) for advanced biliary malignancy by hepato-ligamento-pancreatoduodenectomy (HLPD) or hepatoligamentectomy (HL) remains challenging, and only short-term outcomes have been reported. We showed our surgical technique of HLPD and HL, and retrospectively investigated surgical outcomes of the patients. METHODS: Between 2003 and 2014, we performed four HLPD and three HL including major hepatectomy with concomitant caudate lobectomy. Portal vein reconstruction (PVR) was performed with a right external iliac vein graft, and hepatic artery reconstruction (HAR) was accomplished with the heterogeneous artery using the continuous suturing method. RESULTS: Mean operation time and blood loss were 575 ± 111 min and 1539 ± 950 mL, respectively, and patency of the reconstructed vessels was confirmed postoperatively in all cases. Histologically, negative surgical margins (R0) were achieved in 57% of patients, while the resected vascular invasion was confirmed in all patients. Overall morbidity was high at 57%, but we have achieved no postoperative mortality. Overall median survival time of the patients was 36 months, and a patient of HL survived over 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: En bloc resection of the HDL based on steady vascular reconstruction can improve the surgical outcome of biliary cancer in selected patients.

Giant Krukenberg tumor from a perforated gastric cancer that was successfully removed after multidisciplinary therapy: report of a case.

A 46-year-old female underwent total gastrectomy with a combined resection of the pancreatic tail, spleen, and lateral segment of the liver surgery after conservative medical management for a perforated advanced gastric cancer. The histological findings showed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, and the tumor was Stage IIIC. S-1 and "Kampo-Juzen-taiho-to" were administered as postoperative adjuvant chemo-immunotherapy. A Krukenberg tumor was identified 4 years later. The histological findings strongly suggested the presence of peritoneal dissemination, and S-1-based combined chemotherapies using key drugs such as CDDP, CPT-11, and taxane with the biochemical response modifier "Lentinan" was administered. However, the Krukenberg tumor rapidly increased in size after 4 years and she complained of abdominal distension. Therefore, it was removed with neither difficulties nor apparent recurrent disease, which was thought to be due to the S-1-based combined chemotherapy and the immunological agents are likely to have contributed to her long survival and good quality of life.

Duodenal ulcer penetration into the superior mesenteric artery after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stent placement for acute mesenteric ischemia: report of a case.

A 78-year-old male presented with the chief complaints of abdominal pain and vomiting. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography and abdominal angiography showed occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery due to thrombosis, and emergency percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stent placement were carried out. Two months later, stent thrombosis developed, and a second stent was placed. Eight months later, he complained of general fatigue and anorexia. Gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a duodenal ulcer at the third portion close to the superior mesenteric artery. Thirteen days after conservative management, duodenal ulcer penetration into the superior mesenteric artery with subsequent air embolism developed, and the patient died of multiple organ failure.

Quality of life and the venous function of the lower limb after harvest of autologous external iliac vein grafts: a clinical follow-up study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the quality of life and venous function of the lower limbs after right external iliac vein (REIV) grafting for digestive surgery. METHOD: The study subjects included 66 patients treated surgically for hepatopancreatobiliary malignancy who underwent concomitant resection with REIV for use as autologous grafts. Fifteen patients completed the Chronic Lower Limb Venous Insufficiency Questionnaire (CIVIQ), and the venous function was assessed using air plethysmography (APG) and duplex ultrasound in 10 patients. The outcomes of the 15 patients were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Postoperative morbidity related to graft harvest occurred in three of the 66 patients (5 %). The right legs of the follow-up patients were 6 ± 3 % larger than the left legs. The mean CIVIQ score was acceptably low at 27; however, moderate symptoms (e.g., pain upon long-time standing or walking) occurred in seven of the 15 patients. APG revealed moderate to severe outflow obstructions that did not improve during long-term observation. The blood flow depicted on duplex ultrasonography was significantly associated with the patients' symptoms. No deep venous reflux was encountered, and no right leg skin changes or venous claudication developed. CONCLUSIONS: The symptoms occurring after REIV resection can be unexpectedly prolonged. These unfavorable effects must be kept in mind and the possible sequelae should be carefully explained to patients preoperatively.

Surgical outcome of autologous external iliac vein grafting in cases of hepato-pancreato-biliary malignancy: how I do it.

INTRODUCTION: Operative indications and surgical outcomes of an autologous graft usage for hepato-pancreato-biliary malignancy have not been adequately investigated. Sixty consecutive patients who underwent sleeve resection of the portal vein (PVR, n = 45) or hepatic vein (HVR, n = 15) and right external iliac vein (REIV) graft reconstruction were reviewed. RESULTS: Median graft length and reconstruction time were 3 cm (range, 2-7 cm) and 25 min (range, 16-40 min), respectively. Overall morbidity and surgical mortality were acceptable at 48 % and 1.6 %. Postoperative graft obstructions were seen in one patient with PVR and two patients with HVR; however, these patients did not suffer from the life-threatening complications. CONCLUSION: REIV graft reconstruction shows acceptable morbidity and mortality. Our strategy may extend the operative indications for advanced disease and impaired liver function.

Distal pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection for carcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas.

BACKGROUND: We retrospectively investigated our experiences with distal pancreatectomy with celiac axis resection (DP-CAR) for locally advanced pancreatic cancer and compared the operative outcome and long-term survival between DP-CAR and standard distal pancreatectomy (DP). Although several authors reported that DP-CAR increases resectability rates, the long-term results of this operation are not clear, and there are few reports presenting a comparison of the short- and long-term results between DP-CAR and DP. METHODS: From 1993 to 2010, 43 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the body or tail of the pancreas underwent a macroscopically curative resection (R0/1). Sixteen patients underwent DP-CAR and 27 patients underwent DP. No DP-CAR patients underwent any preoperative coil embolization of the common hepatic artery (CHA) to stimulate the development of collateral pathways from the superior mesenteric artery. The perioperative and histopathologic parameters and survival data were analyzed to compare the two operations. RESULTS: There was no difference in mean operative time, mean blood loss, postoperative mortality, and morbidity between DP-CAR and DP. The rates of morbidity and in-hospital mortality of DP-CAR were 56 and 6%, respectively. In DP-CAR, 15 patients did not require reconstruction of the hepatic artery and no hepatic infarctions were clinically encountered after surgery. The estimated overall 1- and 3-year survival rates in patients who underwent DP-CAR were 42.6 and 25.6%, respectively, and their survival time was significantly less than that of patients who underwent DP (median survival time: 9.7 vs. 30.9 months, P = 0.033). The R1 resection rates of these groups were 44% in DP-CAR and 22% in DP, respectively. CONCLUSION: DP-CAR is a safe and rational procedure for locally advanced pancreatic cancer without preoperative embolization of the CHA. Although the short-term results were equivalent to that for DP, DP-CAR did not improve the long-term survival because of the high rate of R1 resection at present.

Survival benefit of hepatopancreatoduodenectomy for cholangiocarcinoma in comparison to hepatectomy or pancreatoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Perihilar and distal cholangiocarcinoma remain difficult to treat, and long-term survival is poor. We conducted a retrospective study of patients with cholangiocarcinoma to examine whether hepatopancreatoduodenectomy, in comparison to standard surgeries, provides a survival benefit. METHODS: Subjects were 75 patients with perihilar or distal cholangiocarcinoma who, between April 1997 and May 2007, underwent hepatectomy with bile duct resection (Hx, n = 29), pancreatoduodenectomy (PD, n = 32), or hepatopancreatoduodenectomy (HPD, n = 14) at our hospital. We compared surgical outcomes and survival between groups and identified factors negatively influencing survival. RESULTS: Morbidity and in-hospital mortality did not differ significantly between groups (Hx group, 34% and 10%, respectively; PD group, 44% and 3%; and HPD, 57% and 0%). The overall median survival time was 39 months, and overall 5-year survival (including in-hospital mortality) was 42%. Respective group values were as follows: Hx, 24 months and 31%; PD, 51 months and 49%, and HPD, 63 months and 50%. Although the number of patients was small, survival in the HPD was not influenced by the type of invasion whether widespread intramural invasion (n = 8), superficial spread (n = 4), or hepatoduodenal ligament invasion (n = 2). Multivariate analysis (Cox proportional hazards model) showed only perineural invasion (p = .007) and decreased curability (R1/2 resection) (p = .017) to be independent risk factors influencing survival. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of perihilar or distal cholangiocarcinoma, aggressive surgery must be aimed at overcoming perineural invasion. Our findings indicate that HPD improves survival of patients undergoing surgery for widespread cholangiocarcinoma in comparison to standard surgeries.

Late-onset colonic occlusion after emergent selective embolization of sigmoid artery with N-butyl cyanoacrylate for life-threatening traumatic bleeding.

A 30-year-old man who had life-threatening traumatic bleeding from the sigmoid colon was successfully treated with emergent selective embolization of the sigmoid artery with N-butyl cyanoacrylate without ischemia. However, the patient developed colonic occlusion that became clinically apparent 6 months after the embolization and required surgical treatment. Interventional radiologists should be aware of the possibility of late-onset intestinal stricture. Because complications of mesenteric artery embolization may be delayed for months, an extended follow-up period is prudent to monitor the embolization site even in the absence of clinical symptoms.

Portal or superior mesenteric vein resection for pancreatic head adenocarcinoma: prognostic value of the length of venous resection.

BACKGROUND: We investigated retrospectively the operative outcomes of portal vein resection (PVR) for portal vein (PV) and/or superior mesenteric vein (SMV) involvement and clarified the validity of PVR. METHODS: Between 1993 and 2006, 84 patients with invasive pancreatic head adenocarcinoma were resected by pancreatoduodenectomy with macroscopically curative resection. Forty-two patients underwent PVR by means of segmental resection with end-to-end anastomosis in 27 patients and autologous vein graft using an external iliac vein in 15 patients because of macroscopic venous involvement. Venous involvement was classified macroscopically as unilateral involvement (< or =180 degrees ; n = 27) or circumferential involvement (n = 15) and as short (the length of PVR < 3 cm; n = 15) or long (> or =3 cm; n = 27). Histopathologic parameters and survival were analyzed to confirm prognostic factors. RESULTS: Morbidity and mortality were not different based on PVR status. Median and 5-year survivals were 26 months and 32%, respectively, when there was no PVR (n = 42) and 12 months and 17% when there was PVR (n = 42); these values of median and 5-year survivals differed (P < .04 each) between the groups without and with PVR. Limiting the analysis to R0 (histologically curative) resections, median and 5-year survivals were 26 months and 34% when there was no PVR (n = 39) and 20 months and 23% when there was PVR (n = 32); these survivals were not significantly different between groups. In patients with PVR, there were no statistical differences in survival between those resected with or without a venous allograft and those with unilateral or circumferential involvement; however, short PVR showed better 5-year survival than long PVR (39% vs 4%; P = .017) despite similar positive rates of histologic venous invasion. CONCLUSION: PVR has comparable survival compared with no PVR only in patients undergoing an R0 resection. The short PV/SMV invasion that requires PVR <3 cm in length can result in respectable survival rates.

Pleomorphic carcinoma with osteoclastic giant cells of the breast: immunohistochemical differentiation between coexisting neoplastic and reactive giant cells.

Herein is described a unique case of breast carcinoma with two different types of giant cells noted in both cytological and histological specimens. A 51-year-old Japanese woman noticed a hard mass in the upper outer quadrant of her left breast. Aspiration cytology exhibited numerous anaplastic giant cells; the cytological diagnosis was high-grade ductal carcinoma, although a few osteoclastic giant cells were also observed. A left simple mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy were performed. Histologically, approximately 90% of the tumor was composed of giant cells; conventional invasive ductal carcinoma and ductal carcinoma in situ were found focally at the periphery of the tumor. The main part of the tumor contained both anaplastic, neoplastic giant cells and non-neoplastic, osteoclastic giant cells that were distinguishable from nuclear atypism. The presence of the two types of giant cells was also confirmed on immunohistochemistry using a histiocytic marker (CD68) and two epithelial markers (AE1/AE3 and CAM5.2). Based on the latest World Health Organization classification, the diagnosis was pleomorphic carcinoma with osteoclastic giant cells. To the authors' knowledge there has been no previous report on this subject except for a single case mentioned in Rosen's Breast Pathology.

Characteristics and prognosis of patients in Japan with viral marker-negative hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The characteristics and prognosis of patients with hepatitis virus marker-negative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is not fully elucidated in Japan. We investigated the characteristics and prognosis of HCC patients in whom no markers for hepatitis virus infection were detected, in comparison with those of HCC patients with hepatitis virus infection. METHODS: Viral markers for hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) infection were measured in 1152 patients in whom initial HCC was diagnosed between 1991 and 2004. Patient characteristics, characteristics of HCC and survival were compared between patients in whom no marker was positive (viral marker-negative HCC) and those in whom chronic HBV or HCV infection was confirmed by viral markers (viral HCC). RESULTS: Overall, 119 patients (10.3%) were shown to have viral marker-negative HCC. Hepatocellular carcinoma was detected under surveillance in a significantly smaller percentage of patients with viral marker-negative HCC than of patients with viral HCC (P < 0.0001). The tumor was significantly larger (P < 0.0001) and vascular invasion was significantly more prevalent (P = 0.0003) in patients with viral marker-negative HCC than in those with viral HCC. The survival rate of patients with viral marker-negative HCC was significantly lower than that of patients with viral HCC (P = 0.0378). CONCLUSION: The patients with HCC in whom hepatitis viral infection had not been confirmed tended not to be under surveillance, resulting in the detection of HCC at more advanced stage and with a poorer prognosis. Efforts to identify patients without hepatitis virus infection who should be under surveillance for HCC will be necessary in the future.

Hepatopancreatoduodenectomy: its suitability for bile duct cancer versus gallbladder cancer.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: We aimed to determine whether bile duct cancer (BDC) or gallbladder cancer (GBC) was a better candidate for hepatopancreatoduodenectomy (HPD). METHODS: Ten patients with BDC and ten with GBC were treated by HPD with major hepatectomy between 1994 and 2004 and compared, in terms of surgical outcome and survival. RESULTS: In the BDC patients, the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) stage was I in three patients; II in four; III in one; and IV in two; of the GBC patients, one was stage II; four were stage III; and five were stage IV. The reasons for choosing HPD for BDC were: superficial spreading, in three patients; intramural wide invasion, in five; and hepatoduodenal ligament (HDL) invasion, in two; and for GBC, extrahepatic bile duct invasion, in seven; and HDL invasion, in three. The morbidity and mortality rates for BDC and GBC were 40% and 60%, and 0% and 30%, respectively. All three of the GBC patients who died in hospital had undergone a right trisectionectomy with caudate lobectomy. The cumulative 5-year survival rate of the BDC patients was 64%; the 1-year survival rate for the GBC patients was only 20%, and none survived for over 2 years (P < 0.001). Of the patterns of BDC cancer invasion, the superficial-spreading type appeared to have a better prognosis than the others, but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: HPD is indicated for any type of BDC, but HPD did not show any survival benefits in treating patients with GBC with obstructive jaundice.