Prognostic Factors for Surgically Resected Intraductal Papillary Neoplasm of the Bile Duct: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: To date, postoperative prognostic factors for intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) have not been well-established. This study aimed to examine the histopathologic features and postoperative prognosis of the two IPNB subclassifications, as well as factors affecting prognosis, based on the authors' experience at a single institution. METHODS: The study enrolled 83 patients who underwent surgical resection for pathologically diagnosed IPNB at the authors' institution. The clinicopathologic features and postoperative outcomes for these patients were examined. The study also investigated postoperative prognostic factors for IPNB using uni- and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: More than half of the tumors (64%) diagnosed as IPNB were early-stage cancer (UICC Tis or T1). However, none were diagnosed as benign. The multivariate analysis showed that lymph node metastasis (hazard ratio [HR], 5.78; p = 0.002) and bile duct margin status with carcinoma in situ (D-CIS; HR, 5.10; p = 0.002) were independent prognostic factors, whereas MUC6 expression showed only a marginal influence on prediction of prognosis (HR, 0.32; p = 0.07). The tumor recurrence rate and the proportion of locoregional recurrence were significantly greater among the patients with D-CIS than among those with negative bile duct margins, including those patients with low-grade dysplasia. The patients with D-CIS showed a significantly poorer prognosis than those with negative bile duct margins (5-year survival, 38% versus 87%; p = 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of resected IPNBs showed cancer in all cases. Avoiding positive biliary stumps during surgery, including resection of carcinoma in situ, would improve the prognosis for patients with IPNB.

Resectional surgery in gallbladder cancer with jaundice-how to improve the outcome?

PURPOSE: To evaluate the surgical outcomes of patients with gallbladder cancer (GBC) with jaundice due to as-yet unelucidated prognostic factors. METHODS: A total of 348 GBC patients underwent resection at our institute between 1985 and 2016. Of these, 67 had jaundice (serum total bilirubin ≥ 2 mg/dL). Preoperative biliary drainage was performed, with portal vein embolization as required. All patients underwent radical surgery. We retrospectively evaluated the outcomes, performed multivariate analysis for overall survival, and compared our findings to those reported in the literature. RESULTS: The 5-year survival rate of M0 (no distant metastasis) GBC patients with jaundice, who underwent resectional surgery, was 21.9%, versus 68.3% in those without jaundice (p < 0.05). Since 2000, surgical mortality in GBC patients with jaundice has decreased from 12 to 6.8%. Patients with jaundice had more advanced disease and underwent major hepatectomies and vascular resections; however, preoperative jaundice alone was not a prognostic factor. Multivariate analysis of jaundiced patients revealed that percutaneous biliary drainage (PTBD) (vis-à-vis endoscopic drainage [EBD], hazard ratio [HR] 2.82), postoperative morbidity (Clavien-Dindo classification ≥ 3, HR 2.31), and distant metastasis (HR 1.85) were predictors of poor long-term survival. The 5-year survival and peritoneal recurrence rates in M0 patients with jaundice were 16% and 44%, respectively, for patients with PTBD and 39% (p < 0.05) and 13% (p = 0.07) for those with EBD. CONCLUSION: M0 GBC patients with jaundice should undergo surgery if R0 resection is possible. Preoperative EBD may be superior to PTBD in M0 GBC patients with jaundice, although further studies are needed.

Negative prognostic outcomes of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage in distal cholangiocarcinoma: a retrospective analysis using propensity score matching.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of different types of preoperative biliary drainage for cholangiocarcinoma has been debated over the past two decades. Controversy concerning the use of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) versus endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD) still exists. This study aimed to compare the long-term outcomes between PTBD and EBD in patients with distal cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS: Data of patients diagnosed with distal cholangiocarcinoma who underwent preoperative PTBD or EBD from January 1999 to December 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. Post-surgical outcomes, including the incidence of post-operative complications, peritoneal metastasis, disease-free survival, and overall survival, were analyzed. Survival analyses were also performed after propensity score matching in the PTBD and EBD groups. RESULTS: The incidence of post-operative complications was similar in both groups. The 5-year estimated cumulative incidences for peritoneal metastasis were 14.7% and 7.2% in the PTBD and EBD groups, respectively (p = 0.192). The 5-year disease-free survival rates were 23.7% and 47.3% in the PTBD and EBD groups, respectively (p = 0.015). In the multi-variate analysis for overall survival, PTBD was an independent poor prognostic factor. The 5-year overall survival rates were 35.9% and 56.3% in the PTBD and EBD groups, respectively (hazard ratio 1.85, confidence interval 1.05-3.26, p = 0.035). The results after propensity score matching indicated a poorer prognosis in the PTBD group, with a 5-year survival rate of 35.9% in the PTBD group vs 56.0% in the EBD group (p = 0.044). CONCLUSION: PTBD should be considered as a negative prognostic factor in distal cholangiocarcinoma patients.

Functional evaluation following deltoid muscle resection in patients with soft tissue sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to determine functional outcomes in patients undergoing deltoid muscle resection for soft tissue sarcoma. METHODS: Between 2002 and 2014, 18 patients with soft tissue sarcoma of the shoulder who underwent wide resection including the deltoid muscle, and were followed up for more than 12 months, were retrospectively included in the study. In all, 11 patients were male and 7 were female. The median age was 59 years, median follow-up duration was 37 months. The extent of resection of deltoid muscle, with or without rotator cuff damage, reconstruction methods, adjuvant therapy, oncological outcomes, and the International Society of Limb Salvage (ISOLS) score as functional outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Six patients underwent total resection, and twelve underwent partial resections of deltoid muscle. The rotator cuff was resected in four patients. Soft tissue reconstruction was performed in 17 patients using a pedicled latissimus dorsi muscle flap. Two local recurrences and three distant metastases occurred during follow-up. Median overall survival was 72 months. The mean ISOLS score was 25.0 points (±4.6points). Univariate analysis revealed that there was no significant difference in ISOLS score regarding the extent of deltoid muscle resection. Multivariate analysis identified only combined resection of the rotator cuff as a significant prognostic factor for poor functional outcomes (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The extent of resection of the deltoid muscle might not affect the functional outcomes determined by ISOLS score. If the rotator cuff is resected concurrently, satisfactory functional outcomes might not be obtained.

Single metastasis of myxoid liposarcoma from the thigh to thyroid gland: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid metastasis of soft tissue sarcoma is very rare, and the diagnosis is especially difficult when only a single lesion is present. CASE PRESENTATION: A 50-year-old man was diagnosed with myxoid liposarcoma of the right thigh and treated with wide resection. Two and a half years after the surgery, a growing low-density area was incidentally observed in the right lobe of his thyroid gland on follow-up chest computed tomography. Fine needle aspiration biopsy was performed twice, and the thyroid mass was suspected of being a sarcoma metastasis. He was treated by hemithyroidectomy, and the lesion was pathologically confirmed as a metastasis of myxoid liposarcoma. CONCLUSION: We experienced single thyroid gland metastasis in patients with myxoid liposarcoma in whom a growing mass is observed in the thyroid gland after radical surgery of the primary site.

Antitumor effects of 4-methylumbelliferone, a hyaluronan synthesis inhibitor, on malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor.

Hyaluronan (HA) has been shown to play important roles in the growth, invasion and metastasis of malignant tumors. Our previous study showing that high HA expression in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) is predictive of poor patient prognosis, prompted us to speculate that inhibition of HA synthesis in MPNST might suppress the tumorigenicity. The aim of our study was to investigate the antitumor effects of 4-methylumbelliferone (MU), an HA synthesis inhibitor, on human MPNST cells and tissues. The effects of MU on HA accumulation and tumorigenicity in MPNST cells were analyzed in the presence or absence of MU in an in vitro as well as in vivo xenograft model using human MPNST cell lines, sNF96.2 (primary recurrent) and sNF02.2 (metastatic). MU significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion in both MPNST cell lines. HA binding protein (HABP) staining, particle exclusion assay and quantification of HA revealed that MU significantly decreased HA accumulation in the cytoplasms and pericellular matrices in both MPNST cell lines. The expression levels of HA synthase2 (HAS2) and HA synthase3 (HAS3) mRNA were downregulated after treatment with MU. MU induced apoptosis of sNF96.2 cells, but not sNF02.2 cells. MU administration significantly inhibited the tumor growth of sNF96.2 cells in the mouse xenograft model. To the best of our knowledge, our study demonstrates for the first time the antitumor effects of MU on human MPNST mediated by inhibition of HA synthesis. Our results suggest that MU may be a promising agent with novel antitumor mechanisms for MPNST.

Improved surgical outcomes for hilar cholangiocarcinoma: changes in surgical procedures and related outcomes based on 40 years of experience at a single institution.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the changes in procedures for hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC) surgery and patient survival following HC surgery over a 40-year period. METHODS: Between 1974 and 2014, 239 consecutive patients underwent surgery for HC. The changes in perioperative therapy and short- and long-term surgical outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: The rates of major hepatectomy (in particular, right hepatectomy) and R0 resection significantly increased. Blood loss, transfusion rate, morbidity, and surgical mortality all significantly decreased. The 5-year disease-specific survival was 9.29 % (n = 38) in 1974-1988, 41.1 % (n = 88) in 1989-2003 and 55.6 % (n = 57) in 2004-2008 (p = 0.0001: 1974-1988 vs 1989-2003, p < 0.0001:1974-1988 vs 2004-2008, p = 0.076: 1989-2003 vs 2004-2008). According to a multivariate analysis, Bismuth classification IV (HR vs I, 2.86), period 1989-2003 (HR vs 1974-1988, 0.31), 2004-2008 (HR vs 1974-1988, 0.26), and R1 or R2 resection (HR vs R0, 2.22) were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: The surgical outcomes for HC over the 40-year period clearly improved as a result of aggressive surgery and progress in surgical techniques, perioperative management, and diagnostic tools.

Expression of colony-stimulating factor 1 is associated with occurrence of osteochondral change in pigmented villonodular synovitis.

Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is a benign, translocation-derived neoplasm. Because of its high local recurrence rate after surgery and occurrence of osteochondral destruction, a novel therapeutic target is required. The present study aimed to evaluate the significance of protein expression possibly associated with the pathogenesis during the clinical course of PVNS. In 40 cases of PVNS, positivity of colony-stimulated factor 1 (CSF1), its receptor (CSF1R), and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) were immunohistochemically determined. The relationship between the positivity and clinical outcomes was investigated. High positivity of CSF1 staining intensity was associated with an increased incidence of osteochondral lesions (bone erosion and osteoarthritis) (p = 0.009), but not with the rate of local recurrence. Positivity of CSF1R and RANKL staining was not associated with any clinical variables. The number of giant cells was not correlated with positivity of any of the three proteins, or with the clinical outcome. Focusing on knee cases, CSF1 positivity was also associated with the incidence of osteochondal change (p = 0.02). CSF1R positivity was high in cases which had local recurrence, but not significantly so (p = 0.129). Determination of CSF1 and CSF1R expression may be useful as a prognosticator of the clinical course and/or outcomes of PVNS.

In vivo heat-stimulus-triggered osteogenesis.

Several studies have reported that heat stress stimulates the activity of osteoblastic cells in vitro. However, few have addressed the effects of heat stress on osteogenesis in vivo, nor have the optimal temperatures for bone formation been determined. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of hyperthermia treatment on osteogenesis in a rat tibial defect model. Forty-four Sprague Dawley rats were divided into two groups with or without hyperthermia treatment. A 3-mm circular defect in the proximal tibia filled with magnetite cationic liposomes embedded in alginate beads was subjected to hyperthermia treatment (43-46 °C). Radiological assessment at 2 weeks after the treatment showed that significantly stimulated osteogenesis was observed in the hyperthermia group as compared to the control group (p = 0.003). Histomorphometrical analysis at 2 weeks revealed a significant increase of newly formed bone in the hyperthermia group, compared with the control group (p < 0.001). Area of newly formed bone in each hyperthermia group was significantly increased as compared with the control group (43 °C; p = 0.005, 44 °C; p = 0.019, 45 °C; p = 0.003, and 46 °C; p = 0.003, respectively). Alkaline phosphatase was overexpressed at the surfaces of newly formed bone adjacent to magnetite cationic liposome implantation. Our results demonstrate for the first time that heat stimulus accelerates osteogenesis in vivo, and may thus be of interest as a novel and promising tool to induce osteogenesis clinically as well.

Surgical approaches to advanced gallbladder cancer : a 40-year single-institution study of prognostic factors and resectability.

PURPOSE: The aim was to evaluate prognostic factors and factors associated with the resectability of advanced gallbladder cancer (GBC). METHODS: This was a single-institution retrospective review of 274 consecutive surgically-treated cases of advanced GBC (excluding incidental GBC and early GBC). Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to assess prognostic variables. R0 resection and survival rates were investigated for each local extension factor. RESULTS: Long-term survival was uncommon among patients with multiple liver metastases (H2-3: n = 22; 2-year survival, 0 %), dissemination (P1-3: n = 16; 3-year survival, 0 %), invasion through the hepatoduodenal ligament (Binf3: n = 45; 5-year survival, 4.6 %), or group 3 lymph node (LN) metastasis including of the para-aortic LN (N3: n = 52; 13.7 %). Long-term survival rates did not differ significantly between patients who did and did not undergo bile duct resection or pancreaticoduodenectomy. Survival did not differ significantly according to the type of hepatectomy performed. CONCLUSION: Surgery may not be indicated for patients with multiple liver metastasis, dissemination, Binf3, or visible para-aortic LN metastasis. Furthermore, it is important to achieve R0 surgery in cases of GBC.

[A case of basaloid cell carcinoma of the anal canal in which complete response was obtained by chemoradiation therapy].

The patient was a 69-year-old woman with a chief complaint of melena, who had a palpable firm mass and tenderness on digital rectal examination. Colonoscopy (CS) showed a depressed hemorrhagic lesion 2cm in diameter on the left anterior wall of the anal canal near the dentate line. Biopsy examination yielded a diagnosis of basaloid cell carcinoma. On the basis of a diagnosis of clinical stage I (T1N0M0) anal canal cancer, chemoradiotherapy was performed. After treatment, no tumor cells were detected on biopsy. Basaloid cell carcinoma, accounting for about 1.6% of anal canal cancers, is rare. Only 4 among 62 reported cases (including our patient) received chemoradiation therapy.

A clinical trial of a unidirectional porous tricalcium phosphate filling for defects after resection of benign bone lesions: a prospective multicenter study.

Affinos (Kuraray, Japan) is a ß-tricalcium phosphate bone substitute with a unidirectional porous structure. This study aimed to investigate its efficacy on the healing process after filling for bone defects. Fifty-six patients who met the inclusion criteria were divided into cohort 1 (n = 30), including bones other than phalanges and metacarpal/tarsal bones, and cohort 2 (n = 26), including phalanges and metacarpal/tarsal bones. Semi-quantified scores for material resorption and trabeculation through the defect were evaluated with radiographs after surgery. In some patients, levels of bone metabolic markers were assessed. The values of resorption and trabeculation increased steadily with time, and trabeculation progressed compared with resorption in both cohorts. In cohort 1, multiple regression analyses showed that the diaphyseal lesion, smaller defect volume, and increased resorption values at 3 months were associated with increased values of resorption 12 months after surgery (R2 = 0.66, p < 0.001). The trabeculation values at 2 months were positively related to the trabeculation values 12 months after surgery (R2 = 0.35, p = 0.002). In cohort 2, the increased resorption values at 2 months and smaller defect volume significantly correlated with the increased resorption values 12 months after surgery (R2 = 0.58, p < 0.001). The ratio from the baseline of pyridinoline cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen at 3 months was negatively associated with the trabeculation values 12 months after surgery (R = - 0.791, p = 0.004). Evaluation of radiographic images and bone metabolic markers in the early postoperative period may predict the healing status at 12 months postoperatively in the defects followed by Affinos filling.

Forty-year experience with flow-diversion surgery for patients with congenital choledochal cysts with pancreaticobiliary maljunction at a single institution.

BACKGROUND: Congenital choledochal cyst with pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM) is known as a high-risk factor for various complications such as cholangitis, pancreatitis, and carcinogenesis of the biliary system by mutual refluxes of bile and pancreatic juice. Furthermore, it is not rare to suffer from postoperative complications if the wrong operative procedure is chosen. Therefore, we sought to review the relationship between operative procedure for types I and IV-A (Todani's classification) congenital choledochal cyst with PBM, and long-term treatment outcome. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was carried out of 144 patients who underwent flow diversion surgery in our institution during the 40-year period from 1968 to 2008 and who did not have a coexisting malignant tumor at the time of surgery. RESULTS: Of these 144 patients, 137 underwent complete cyst excision and 7 underwent pancreas head resection as flow diversion surgery. The follow-up periods ranged from 1 to 345 months and from 1 to 271 months (average, 100.2 and 94.1) in patients with type I and type IV-A cysts, respectively. Regarding surgical treatment outcome, postoperative progress was good in 130 (90.3%) of the 144 patients. Fourteen patients required hospitalization for long-term postoperative complications such as cholangitis, pancreatitis, intrahepatic calculi, pancreatic calculus, and carcinogenesis during postoperative follow-up. Of these, 2 patients who underwent surgery for type IV-A cysts died because of secondary biliary cirrhosis with liver failure and advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that flow diversion surgery for congenital choledochal cysts with PBM significantly reduces the risk of subsequent development of malignancy in the biliary tract, and it is vital to choose the appropriate operative procedure to prevent occurrence of these postoperative complications.

Mass-forming intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with marked enhancement on arterial-phase computed tomography reflects favorable surgical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Outcomes after hepatectomy in patients with mass-forming (MF) type intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) with marked enhancement within the tumor on arterial-phase computed tomography (CT) scans have not been clarified in detail. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 140 patients with MF type ICC who underwent hepatectomy from 1989 through 2008. Surgical outcomes were compared between 25 patients with MF type ICC with marked enhancement within the tumor (hypervascular ICC) and 109 patients without enhancement within the tumor (hypovascular ICC) on arterial-phase CT scans. RESULTS: Portal invasion and intrahepatic metastasis were significantly lower in patients with hypervascular ICC than in those with hypovascular ICC. The 5-year survival rate was significantly higher in patients with hypervascular ICC (86%) than in patients with hypovascular ICC (27%, P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed hypervascular ICC on arterial-phase CT scans, normal level of cancer-associated carbohydrate antigen 19-9, absence of portal invasion, and absence of intrahepatic metastasis of ICC to be significant independent prognostic factors for overall survival in patients with MF type ICC. CONCLUSIONS: MF type ICC with marked enhancement within the tumor on arterial CT scans showed a favorable surgical outcome due to its less invasive histopathologic characteristics in patients with MF type ICC.

Tumor location and type affect local recurrence and joint damage in tenosynovial giant cell tumor: a multi-center study.

Osteochondral destruction and a high recurrence rate after surgery are major concerns that make difficult the treatment course of tenosynovial giant cell tumor. The aims of this study were to elucidate rates of postoperative local recurrence and osteochondral destruction, as correlated with various demographic factors. Eighty surgically treated patients with intra-articular tumors (knee: 49, ankle and foot: 12, hip: 10, others: 9) were included in this study. Factors including age, disease type (diffuse/localized), location, existence of osteochondral destruction were correlated with local recurrence or development/progression of osteochondral destruction. The 5-year local recurrence free survival rate was 71.4%. Diffuse type (n = 59, localized: n = 21) (P = 0.023) and knee location (P = 0.002) were independent risk factors for local recurrence. Diffuse type (P = 0.009) was a significant risk factor, and knee location (P = 0.001) was a negative factor for osteochondral destruction at the initial examination. Progression of osteochondral destruction was observed more often in cases with local recurrence (P = 0.040) and findings of osteochondral destruction at the initial examination (P = 0.029). Diffuse type is a factor that should be noted for both local recurrence and osteochondral destruction, while local recurrence occurs but osteochondral destruction is less observed in the knee.

Examination of Prognostic Factors Affecting Long-Term Survival of Patients with Stage 3/4 Gallbladder Cancer without Distant Metastasis.

In advanced gallbladder cancer (GBC) radical resection, if multiple prognostic factors are present, the outcome may be poor; however, the details remain unclear. To investigate the poor prognostic factors affecting long-term surgical outcome, we examined 157 cases of resected stage 3/4 GBC without distant metastasis between 1985 and 2017. Poor prognostic factors for overall survival and treatment outcomes of a number of predictable preoperative poor prognostic factors were evaluated. The surgical mortality was 4.5%. In multivariate analysis, blood loss, poor histology, liver invasion, and ≥4 regional lymph node metastases (LNMs) were independent prognostic factors for poor surgical outcomes; invasion of the left margin or the entire area of the hepatoduodenal ligament and a Clavien-Dindo classification ≥3 were marginal factors. The analysis identified outcomes of patients with factors that could be predicted preoperatively, such as liver invasion ≥5 mm, invasion of the left margin or the entire area of the hepatoduodenal ligament, and ≥4 regional LNMs. Thus, the five-year overall survival was 54% for zero factors, 34% for one factor, and 4% for two factors (p < 0.05). A poor surgical outcome was likely when two or more factors were predicted preoperatively; therefore, new treatment strategies are required for such patients.

Hepatic resection in 485 R0 pT2 and pT3 cases of advanced carcinoma of the gallbladder: results of a Japanese Society of Biliary Surgery survey--a multicenter study.

PURPOSE: We conducted this study to evaluate the optimal hepatic resection for pT2 and pT3 advanced carcinoma of the gallbladder without invasion of the hepatoduodenal ligament. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire survey regarding 4,243 cases of carcinoma of the gallbladder treated during the recent 10-year period at 112 institutions belonging to the Japanese Society of Biliary Surgery. The questionnaires included questions on preoperative-diagnosis, complications, treatment, and surgical treatment, procedures of resection, surgical result, path histological findings, mode, and site of recurrence, additional post-operative treatment. They included 293 pT2 and 192 pT3 R0 cases, which were negative for hepatoduodenal ligament invasion, and the cumulative survival rates and sites of postoperative recurrence in the form of liver metastasis, were retrospectively analyzed in these 485 cases. RESULT: There were no significant differences in survival rate or recurrence rates in the form of liver metastasis between the groups that underwent resection of the gallbladder bed, the group that underwent segmentectomy 4a+5, and the group that underwent hepatectomy in patients with of both pT2 or pT3 gallbladder cancers. Our results also did not show that liver metastasis to segment 4a5 alone was particularly common. CONCLUSION: For gallbladder cancer, neither with hepatoduodenal ligament invasion nor hepatic invasion, resection of the gallbladder bed is more preferable for surgical hepatic procedure. For gallbladder cancer that invades any hepatic sites, a hepatic surgical procedure that could eliminate surgical margins would be desirable.

Should the extrahepatic bile duct be resected or preserved in R0 radical surgery for advanced gallbladder carcinoma? Results of a Japanese Society of Biliary Surgery Survey: a multicenter study.

PURPOSE: We assessed the significance of an extra bile duct resection by comparing the survival of patients with advanced gallbladder carcinoma who had resected bile ducts with those who had preserved bile ducts. A radical cholecystectomy that includes extra bile duct resections has been performed without any clear evidence of whether an extra bile duct resection is preventive or curative. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire survey among clinicians who belonged to the 114 member institutions of the Japanese Society of Biliary Surgery. The questionnaires included questions on the preoperative diagnosis, complications, treatment, and surgical treatment, resection procedures, surgical results, pathological and histological findings, mode and site of recurrence, and the need for additional postoperative treatment. A total of 4243 patients who had gallbladder carcinoma and were treated from January 1, 1994 to December 31, 2003 were identified. The 838 R0 patients with pT2, pT3, and pT4 advanced carcinoma of the gallbladder for which there was no cancer invasion to the hepatoduodenal ligament or cystic duct in the final analysis. RESULTS: The 5-year cumulative survival, postoperative complications, postoperative lymph node metastasis, and local recurrence along the hepatoduodenal ligament were not substantially different between the resected bile duct and the preserved bile duct groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our retrospective questionnaire survey showed that an extrahepatic bile duct resection had no preventive value in some patients with advanced gallbladder carcinoma in comparison to similar patients who had no such bile duct resection. An extrahepatic bile duct resection may therefore be unnecessary in advanced gallbladder carcinoma without a direct infiltration of the hepatoduodenal ligament and the cystic duct.