Hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombi in the bile duct.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), presenting as obstructive jaundice caused by tumor thrombi in the bile duct, is rare. The authors report on clinical experiences and evaluate the results of different treatment modalities for this disease. METHODOLOGY: We experienced 549 cases of HCC at Ajou University Hospital from June 1994 through January 1998. Among them, 10 cases with gross evidence of tumor thrombi in the bile duct were treated with different resection methods and interventions, and then compared with those receiving short-term results. RESULTS: Eight out of 10 patients underwent exploratory laparotomy: right lobectomy with extrahepatic bile duct resection in 2 cases; right lobectomy with tumor thrombectomy in 2 cases; left lobectomy and caudate lobectomy with extra-hepatic bile duct resection in 2 cases: T-tube drainage in 1 case and biopsy only with post-operative internal biliary stent, in 1 case. Survival times of these patients were 39 months (still alive); 38 months (still alive); 8 months (died); 8 months (died); 8 months (still alive); 1 month (still alive); 14 months (died); 8 months (died), respectively. Of the 2 non-surgical cases, 1 underwent PTBD only and the other had endoscopic removal of the thrombi. Their survival times were 18 days (died) and 24 months (still alive with recurrence), respectively. The 4 cases, with right lobectomy or left lobectomy including extrahepatic bile duct resection, had relatively long-term disease-free survival (39 months, 38 months, 8 months and 1 month after operation, respectively). However, there were no differences in survival between the partial hepatectomy procedure with removal of tumor thrombi and the simple drainage procedure without tumor resection. CONCLUSIONS: Although the number of patients in this study is small, our results suggest that: 1) For the improvement of survival, it seems necessary to perform major hepatic resection with removal of the extrahepatic bile duct. 2) If hepatic resection cannot be accomplished with bile duct resection due to limited liver function, non-surgical modalities should be considered instead of surgery because no differences in prognosis between the 2 groups exist.     

Surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with bile duct tumor thrombi

AIM: To study the surgical treatment effect and outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with bile duct tumor thrombi (BDTT). METHODS: Fifty-three consecutive HCC patients with BDTT admitted in our department from July 1984 to December 2002 were reviewed retrospectively. The clinical data, diagnostic methods, surgical procedures and outcome of these patients were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: One patient rejected surgical treatment, 6 cases underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage (PTCD) for unresectable primary disease, and the other 46 cases underwent surgical operation. The postoperative mortality was 17.6%, and the morbidity was 32.6%. Serum total bilirubin levels of these patients with obstructive jaundice decreased gradually after surgery. The survival time of six cases who underwent PTCD ranged from 2 to 7 mo (median survival of 3.7 mo). The survival time of the patients who received surgery was as follows: 2 mo for one patient who underwent laparotomy, 5-46 mo (median survival of 23.5 mo, which was the longest survival in comparison with patients who underwent other procedures, P=0.0024) for 17 cases who underwent hepatectomy, 5-17 mo (median survival of 10.0 mo) for 5 cases who underwent HACE, 3-9 mo (median survival of 6.1 mo) for 11 cases who underwent simple thrombectomy and biliary drainage, and 3-8 mo (median survival of 4.3 mo) for four cases who underwent simple biliary drainage. CONCLUSION: Jaundice caused by BDTT in HCC patients is not a contraindication for surgery. Only curative resection can result in long-term survival. Early diagnosis and surgical treatment are the key points to prolong the survival of patients.     

ERCP在肝细胞癌并胆管癌栓时的应用

目的 探讨ERCP在肝细胞癌合并胆管癌栓处理中的作用。方法 回顾分析15例肝细胞癌合并胆管癌栓患者的ERCP诊疗结果。其中ERCP检查后行内镜下胆管支架引流术8例；内镜下鼻胆管引流术7例；ENBD后再行内镜下胆管金属支架引流术4例；内镜下乳头括约肌切开术后取栓及细胞刷12例。ERCP加综合治疗9例。结果 胆管造影共同表现为胆管腔内充盈缺损，可呈“球拍征”、“凝絮征”；ERCP治疗后13例有效。有效率为86．7％．ERCP后同时行综合治疗，均获良好的治疗效果。结论ERCP在肝细胞癌并胆管内癌栓的诊治中有重要作用，“球拍征”、“凝絮征”是重要胆管癌栓征象。     

Intraductal ultrasonography for hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombi in the bile duct: Comparison with polypoid cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Tumor thrombi in the bile duct caused by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and cholangiocarcinoma show polypoid lesions on cholangiographic findings. This study prospectively compared the images of intraductal ultrasonography between HCC and polypoid cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS: In five patients with tumor thrombi in the bile duct caused by HCC, a 2.0 mm diameter ultrasonic probe with a frequency of 20 MHz was inserted into the bile duct via the transpapillary route (n = 4) or the transhepatic route (n = 1). The images were compared to that of 65 patients with cholangiocarcinoma. RESULTS: In all patients with HCC, intraductal ultrasonography showed a 'polypoid tumor with a narrow base'. In 16 of 65 patients with cholangiocarcinoma, it showed a 'polypoid tumor with a narrow base'. When intraductal ultrasonography showed a 'polypoid tumor with a narrow base', the findings of a positive 'nodule within a nodule' (40 vs 0%; P < 0.05), and the absence of a 'papillary-surface pattern' (80 vs 13%; P < 0.05) were more highly associated with tumor thrombi caused by HCC than to polypoid-type cholangiocarcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Intraductal ultrasonography was useful to distinguish between tumor thrombi caused by HCC and polypoid-type cholangiocarcinoma.     

Hepatocellular carcinoma originating from intramural cells in the bile duct

We report a case of intramural hepatocellular carcinoma in the right anterior bile duct associated with another carcinoma in segment IV of the liver. The cancers might have been of multicentric origin because they were separated by about 5 cm of non-cancerous liver parenchyma and their pathological findings were different from each other. The intramural carcinoma pushed up the biliary mucosa and extended into the bile duct lumen. It is difficult to make a reasonable assumption about origin of the tumor, but we consider that the carcinoma might have originated in intramural cells in the bile duct which were different from hepatocytes in the liver parenchyma.     

Palliative treatment for bile duct carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma remains a very difficult problem for the surgeon. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences between surgical treatment and endoscopic or transhepatic dilatation and intubation. METHODOLOGY: Clinical data from 62 consecutive patients with carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile ducts, who underwent palliative treatment during the past 25 years in our department, were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative assessment defined site, stage and resectability of tumors. RESULTS: Tumors were located in the upper third of the bile duct in 32 cases, in the middle third in 17 cases and in the distal third in 13 cases. Transtumoral dilatation was performed in 36 patients (Group A) and cholangioenteric bypass in the remaining 26 patients (Group B). The overall mortality rate was 12.9%. The average survival rate was 6.5 months in group A and 7.3 months in group B. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion we suggest that the cholangioenteric bypass offers a better quality of life than non-operative techniques.     

Current surgical treatment for bile duct cancer

Since extrahepatic bile duct cancer is difficult to diagnose and to cure,a safe and radical surgical strategy is needed.In this review,the modes of infiltration and spread of extrahepatic bile duct cancer and surgical strategy are discussed.Extended hemihepatectomy,with or without pancreatoduodenectomy(PD),plus extrahepatic bile duct resection and regional lymphadenectomy has recently been recognized as the standard curative treatment for hilar bile duct cancer.On the other hand,PD is the choice of treatment for middle and distal bile duct cancer.Major hepatectomy concomitant with PD(hepatopancreatoduodenectomy)has been applied to selected patients with widespread tumors.Preoperative biliary drainage(BD)followed by portal vein embolization(PVE)enables major hepatectomy in patients with hilar bile duct cancer without mortality.BD should be performed considering the surgical procedure,especially,in patients with separated intrahepatic bile ducts caused by hilar bile duct cancer.Right or left trisectoriectomy are indicated according to the tumor spread and biliary anatomy.As a result,extended radical resection offers a chance for cure of hilar bile duct cancer with improved resectability,curability,and a 5-year survival rate of 40%.A 5-year survival rate has ranged from 24% to 39% after PD for middle and distal bile duct cancer.     

Bile duct hepatocellular carcinoma thrombi

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy and the third cause of death related to cancer. Through the application of surveillance programs the percentage of early diagnosis has increased but the diagnosis is still made at advanced stages in some patients. The presentation of HCC as progressive jaundice secondary to bile duct tumor thrombi is uncommon. In such cases it is extremely difficult to distinguish such biliary lesions from cholangiocarcinoma or even common bile stones. We report a case of a 34-year-old male patient with common bile duct invasion secondary to HCC that mimicked choledocholithiasis. The diagnosis of HCC was confirmed after thrombi extraction during ERCP.     

胆管癌栓致阻塞性黄疸9例外科治疗分析

目的探讨胆管癌栓致阻塞性黄疸外科治疗情况及治疗效果。方法对1990年2月至2002年8月间收治的9例原发性肝癌及胆管癌合并胆管癌栓患者的外科治疗情况进行回顾性分析和总结。结果4例行原发肿瘤及胆管癌栓根治切除术;5例行姑息性胆管癌栓清除术加T管引流术。5例患者经胆管切开癌栓清除术后黄疸症状及体征缓解1～4月,平均生存期4—6月;4例患者经左肝叶切除术或胆管癌根治术后1．5—2年内复发或远处转移。结论胆管癌栓致阻塞性黄疸并非手术治疗的禁忌,施行外科手术解决梗阻可能是一种积极的治疗方法。     

Transcatheter arterial embolization for bleeding from bile duct tumor thrombi of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma usually invades the portal vein, forming tumor thrombi. Invasion of the bile duct, i.e., intrabile tumor growth or bile duct tumor thrombi is rare. Patients with bile duct tumor thrombi present with obstructive jaundice, abdominal pain or hemobilia. Hemobilia due to bile duct tumor thrombi is sometimes massive and fatal. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of transcatheter arterial embolization for hemobilia caused by bile duct tumor thrombi of hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODOLOGY: Between 1993 January and 2000 December, transcatheter arterial embolization was performed in 4 patients with hemobilia and gastrointestinal bleeding from bile duct tumor thrombi of hepatocellular carcinoma. RESULTS: In all 4 patients, transcatheter arterial embolization was successfully performed and resulted in cessation of bleeding. One patient had recurrent hemobilia, which was controlled by another transcatheter arterial embolization. Three patients were discharged from hospital after transcatheter arterial embolization. Patients died of hepatic failure or multiple tumors 5 to 7 months after the onset of hemobilia, although hemobilia had been fully controlled. CONCLUSIONS: Transcatheter arterial embolization seemed to be effective for the control of massive hemobilia caused by bile duct tumor thrombi associated with hepatocellular carcinoma.     

对肝内胆管结石外科治疗的再认识

肝内胆管结石系原发性胆管结石范畴,尽管其发病率有所下降,但因地区不同仍有差别。早期肝内胆管结石采用微创外科技术施行肝切除术治疗是正确选择,应保护Oddi括约肌的功能;但对复杂性肝内胆管结石所致的终末期肝病的外科治疗仍存在诸多问题。应提倡多学科合作医疗模式,进行综合性治疗,并加强肝内胆管结石预防、病因和发病机制等研究,为治疗肝内胆管结石努力探索。     

Tumors with macroscopic bile duct thrombi in non-HCC patients: dynamic multi-phase MSCT findings

Non-hepatocellular carcinoma (non-HCC) with macroscopic bile duct tumor thrombus (BDTT) formation is rare, few radiological studies have been reported. In this case report, we retrospectively analyzed the imaging findings of three cases of non-HCC with macroscopic BDTT on dynamic enhanced multislice computed tomography (MSCT) scan. One case of primary hepatic carcinosarcoma was presented as a solitary, large well-defined tumor with significant necrotic changes. One case of liver metastasis from colon cancer was presented as a lobulated, large ill-defined tumor. One case of intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasm involved the entire pancreas, presented as a cystic and solid mass with multilocular changes (the individual loculi were less than 5.0 mm in diameter). The bile duct was dilated due to expansible growth of the BDTT in all three patients. The BDTT was contiguous with hepatic or pancreatic tumor, and both of them showed the same enhancement patterns on dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan: early enhancement in the hepatic arterial phase and a quick wash-out of contrast agent in the portal and equilibrium phases. Macroscopic BDTT in non-HCC patient is rare, dynamic enhanced MSCT scan may be valuable in the diagnosis of non-HCC with BDTT.     

Study of the intrahepatic surgical margin of hilar bile duct carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The diagnosis and treatment for hilar bile duct carcinoma has greatly improved. Frozen section is one of the modalities used to determine the intrahepatic surgical margin and the surgical approach for tumor resection. But we are sometimes faced with the case where we are perplexed whether to carry out additional surgical resection or not according to the result of frozen section, due to its inaccuracy. We studied herein the relation between the prognosis and the intrahepatic surgical margin according to the result of frozen section. METHODOLOGY: We reviewed 23 cases of hilar bile duct carcinoma whose intrahepatic surgical margin was determined by frozen section and studied the cause of death and surgical procedure. Results of the frozen sections were compared with the permanent paraffin sections. RESULTS: The overall survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years after operation were 68.1, 41.3, and 33.0%, respectively. The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of frozen section was 56.5%, 75.0%, and 46.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that by evaluating the diagnosis of frozen section during the surgery it was difficult to determine intrahepatic surgical margin. Aggressive hepatic resection sometimes causes a high risk of hepatic failure in which case the histological diagnosis of the frozen section throughout should not be carried out.     

Anomalous pancreaticobiliary duct union associated with bile duct carcinoma

An abnormal high union of the common bile duct and the main pancreatic duct, without accompanying cystic dilatation of the bile ducts, is a rare occurrence. A case of obstructive jaundice due to bile duct carcinoma in connection with this anomaly is reported.     

Trends of surgical treatment of hilar bile duct cancer: clinical andexperimental perspectives

AIM To summarize the experience of surgical treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma and the results of aseries of experiments.METHODS AND RESULTS Personal perspectives of surgical treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma werebased on the experience of a series of patients with hilar bile duct cancer treated in the General Hospital ofPLA, Beijing from 1986 to 1999. A total of 157 cases were treated surgically, with 106 (67.5%) resections ofthe tumor , 37.6% of the resections was proved to be radical. The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year survival rate of theradical resection group was 96.7%, 40.0%, 23.3% and 13.3%, respectively. No patient of the palliativeresection group lived beyond 3 years postoperatively. The recent trends of surgical management of hilar bileduct cancer were discussed. Experiments were carried out for cooperative clinicopathological study toevaluate the perineural space involvement, the neural cell adhesion molecule expression, p16 geneexpression, and the 3-dimensional reconstruction of the bile duct cancer specimens. The pathogeneticrelationship of HBV and HCV with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma was evaluated by histochemical and IS-PCR methods. And an inquiry into the possibility of gene therapy was made.CONCLUSION Hilar bile duct cancer rarely runs a “benign” course. It is a regional disease rather than alocal affection and may be related to HBV and HCV infection in China. It possesses the metastasing abilityalong the perineural space by a “jumping” fashion, therefore, in most cases, conventional surgical excision isbound to be unradical in the region of the porta hepatis for anatomical reasons.