Left hemihepatectomy and caudate lobectomy and complete extrahepatic bile duct resection using transduodenal approach for hilar cholangiocarcinoma arsing from biliary papillomatosis

Retroduodenal resection of the extrahepatic common bile duct with in situ re-implantation of the main pancreatic duct: A report of two cases

Resection of the whole distal common bile duct (CBD) with in situ re-implantation of the main pancreatic duct can be a surgical option to avoid pancreaticoduodenectomy. in this study, we present two cases of cholangiocarcinomas with diffuse involvement of the extrahepatic CBD that was resected through a retroduodenal approach and re-implantation of the main pancreatic duct. The first case was a 70-year-old male patient with intraductal papillary neoplasm with invasive cholangiocarcinoma. He underwent retroduodenal resection of the whole CBD and in situ re-implantation of the main pancreatic duct. He was disease-free for 8 years, but tumor recurrence occurred at the hepaticojejunostomy site. This patient is currently undergoing chemoradiation therapy for treatment of recurrent lesions. The second case was a 71-year-old male patient with diffuse cholangiocarcinoma involving the whole extrahepatic CBD. He underwent medial sectionectomy, retroduodenal resection of the whole CBD and in situ re-implantation of the main pancreatic duct. He received postoperative chemoradiation therapy. He was disease-free for 3 years, but tumor recurrence occurred at the hepaticojejunostomy site. He passed away 4 years and 6 months after surgery. In conclusion, complete resection of the extrahepatic CBD through a retroduodenal approach with in situ re-implantation of the main pancreatic duct is feasible and less invasive than PD. Therefore, the proposed less-invasive approach can be an alternative procedure in selected patients requiring complete resection of the distal CBD.

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct: a single-center retrospective study

Objective Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) has been increasingly recognized and reported. However, its clinical features are still controversial because of its low incidence. In the present study, we investigated the characteristics of IPNB. Methods In total, 28 patients with IPNB were treated at our institution from January 2000 to December 2016. Clinical data were collected and a retrospective accurate database was constructed. Demographic characteristics, perioperative management, and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed. Results Abdominal discomfort was the most common symptom. Preoperative imaging revealed biliary tract dilatation in 23 patients. Left lateral or left hepatic lobectomy was the most frequently performed surgical procedure. Histological analysis revealed malignancy in 17 patients. Eighty-eight lymph nodes were swept from the patients with malignant disease, but only three were metastatic. Twenty-one patients were followed up for 3 to 60 months (mean, 29.4 ± 18.2 months). Seven patients died during the follow-up period. Patients with benign tumors had significantly greater disease-free survival. Conclusions IPNB is a rare biliary disease that occurs mainly in patients of advanced age. The most common symptom is abdominal discomfort. Lymphatic metastasis is uncommon. Patients with benign tumors may have a better prognosis than those with malignant tumors.

Pancreas-preserving resection of lower biliary tract adenocarcinoma: A coring-out technique

Surgical resection for distal cholangiocarcinoma is usually carried out using pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). However, because PD is a complex procedure with a high rate of postoperative complications, the surgical indications should be carefully considered, especially for patients with a decreased performance status, significant comorbidities, and/or anatomical anomalies. If curatively carried out, a less invasive, local resection may be an alternative procedure for such patients. In the current study, we present pancreas‐preserving resection of the lower biliary tract in a patient with early‐stage distal cholangiocarcinoma. This procedure was selected to avoid PD with arterial reconstruction because of arterial anomalies. After an abdominal exploration, a cholecystectomy was carried out and the common hepatic duct was transected. The bile duct was dissected from the pancreatic parenchyma without pancreatic resection, downward to the biliopancreatic ductal confluence. Next, a duodenotomy was done opposite Vater's ampulla. The duodenal mucosa around Vater's ampulla was incised and dissected, and the main pancreatic duct (MPD) was divided. The bile duct was completely separated from the pancreatic parenchyma, and the lower biliary tract was totally “cored‐out”. After resection, the MPD was re‐implanted into the duodenal wall, and the duodenotomy was closed. Finally, a Roux‐en‐Y hepaticojejunostomy was created. Postoperative course was uneventful. No tumor recurrence has been observed for 21 months after the operation. Thus, pancreas‐preserving resection of the lower biliary tract appeared to be appropriate for our patient. This organ‐preserving approach can be a useful, alternative procedure in selected patients.

An observational and comparative study on intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the biliary tract and the pancreas from a Chinese cohort

BACKGROUND

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the biliary tract (BT-IPMNs) are unique but very rare biliary tumors. The relationship between BT-IPMNs and intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas (P-IPMNs) was still unclear and controversial.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate the clinical, radiological, histopathological, and prognostic characteristics of BT-IPMNs and P-IPMNs to achieve a better understanding of these two rare bilio-pancreatic diseases and their connections.

METHODS

Data of a total of 116 patients who were all surgically treated and histopathologically diagnosed as BT-IPMNs or P-IPMNs from January 2004 to December 2014 in our single institution was all retrospectively collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

This study respectively enrolled 32 patients with BT-IPMNs and 84 ones with P-IPMNs. The differences between BT-IPMNs and P-IPMNs in age, sex ratios, clinical presentation, elevated tumor markers and proportion of malignancy were not statistically significant (P>0.05), while the tumor diameter of BT-IPMNs was notably smaller than P-IPMNs (1.72cm, 4.56cm, respectively; P=0.028). Patients with BT-IPMNs were more likely manifest the symptoms of cholangitis, compared to those with P-IPMNs who showed pancreatitis (75%, 30%, respectively; P=0.039). Bile duct dilatation (100%), tumor of bile duct cavity (50%) or/and cystic dilatation of the bile duct (50%) were the typical manifestations of preoperative imaging examinations of BT-IPMNs, in which tumors were mainly located in intrahepatic or hepatic hilar region (26, 81%). Surgery has been the curable treatment for BT-IPMNs in which left hepatic lobectomy was the most commonly performed procedure (20, 63%). Finally, compared with P-IPMNs, the overall mean survival time of patients with BT-IPMNs was a little shorter (59.1mon, 86.7mon, respectively; P=0.002).

CONCLUSION

BT-IPMNs are a sort of rare and separate biliary tract neoplasm, which might be related with the stones of biliary tract or the infections of parasite. Although arising in different organs and representing different features, BT-IPMNs and P-IPMNs shared considerable clinical and pathological similarities which might represent related or similar development process in the bilio-pancreatic duct systems.

Biliary tract intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm: Report of 19 cases

AIM: To gain a better understanding of biliary tract intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (BT-IPMN).

METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2013, 19 cases of BT-IPMN were retrospectively identified from a total of 343 biliary tract tumors resected in our single institution. Demographic characteristics, clinical data, pathology, surgical strategies, and long-term follow-up were analyzed.

RESULTS: The mean age of the 19 BT-IPMN cases was 53.8 years (range: 25-74 years). The most common symptom was abdominal pain (15/19; 78.9%), followed by jaundice (7/19; 36.8%). Cholangitis was associated with most (16/19; 84.2%) of the BT-IPMN cases. Macroscopically visible mucin was detected in all 19 patients, based on original surgical reports. The most common abnormal preoperative imaging findings for BT-IPMN were bile duct dilation (19/19; 100%) and intraluminal masses (10/19; 52.6%). Thirteen (68.4%) cases involved the intrahepatic bile duct and hilum. We performed left hepatectomy in 11/19 (57.9%), right hepatectomy in 2/19 (10.5%), bile duct resection in 4/19 (21.1%), and pancreatoduodenectomy in 1/19 (5.3%) patients. One (5.3%) patient was biopsied and received a choledochojejunostomy because of multiple tumors involving the right extrahepatic and left intrahepatic bile ducts. Histology showed malignancy in 10/19 (52.6%) patients. The overall median survival was 68 mo. The benign cases showed a non-significant trend towards improved survival compared to malignant cases (68 mo vs 48 mo, P = 0.347). The patient without tumor resection died of liver failure 22 mo after palliative surgery.

CONCLUSION: BT-IPMN is a rare biliary entity. Complete resection of the tumor is associated with good survival, even in patients with malignant disease.

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct

Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is a variant of bile duct carcinoma that is characterized by intraductal growth and better outcomes compared with common cholangiocarcinoma. IPNBs are mainly found in patients from Far Eastern areas, where hepatolithiasis and clonorchiasis are endemic. According to the immunohistochemical profiles of the mucin core proteins, IPNBs are classified into four types: pancreaticobiliary, intestinal, gastric, and oncocytic. Approximately 40%-80% of IPNBs contain a component of invasive carcinoma or tubular or mucinous adenocarcinoma, suggesting that IPNB is a disease with high potential for malignancy. It is difficult to make an accurate preoperative diagnosis because of IPNB’s low incidence and the lack of specificity in its clinical manifestation. The most common abnormal preoperative imaging findings of IPNB are intraductal masses and the involvement of bile duct dilation. Simultaneous proximal and distal bile duct dilation can be detected in some cases, which has diagnostic significance. Cholangiography and cholangioscopy are needed to confirm the pathology and demonstrate the extent of the lesions. However, pathologic diagnosis by biopsy cannot reflect the actual stage in many cases because different foci may be of different stages and because mixed pathologic findings may exist in the same lesion. Surgical resection is the major treatment. Systematic cholangioscopy with staged biopsies and frozen sections is recommended during resection to ensure that no minor tumors are left and that curative resection is achieved. Staging, histologic subtype, curative resection and lymph node metastasis are factors affecting long-term survival.

Preneoplastic conditions underlying bile duct cancer

BACKGROUND

Malignancies arising from the biliary tract can arise from the epithelial lining of the biliary tract and surrounding tissues. Conditions that predispose to malignancy as well as preneoplastic changes in biliary tract epithelia have been identified. In this overview, we discuss preneoplastic conditions of the biliary tract and emphasize their clinical relevance.

RESULTS

Chronic biliary tract inflammation predisposes to cancer in the biliary tract. Biliary tract carcinogenesis involves a multistep process as a consequence of chronic biliary epithelial injury or inflammation. Reminiscent of other gastrointestinal epithelial malignancies such as gastric, colon, and pancreatic cancer, biliary tract cancers may evolve via multistep progression from epithelial hyperplasia and dysplasia to malignant transformation. The potential role of initiating cells is also becoming recognized.

CONCLUSIONS

In spite of improved risk factor recognition, and advances in diagnostic tools, the early diagnosis of pre-malignant or malignant biliary tract conditions is extremely challenging, and there is a paucity of evidence on which to base their management. As a result, the role of pre-emptive surgery remains largely undefined.

Surgical technique for complete resection of the extrahepatic portion of the common bile duct and the ampulla of Vater for tumors of the ampulla of Vater

BACKGROUND

Ampullary tumors have to be completely resected, but substantial morbidity and mortality rates are associated with pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Local resection can be the procedure of choice in selected ampullary lesions for high-risk patients.

METHODS

Preoperative examination indicated that the ampullary tumor extended into the common bile duct without evidence of pancreatic duct involvement and no definite invasion into either the duodenum or the pancreas. We performed a complete resection of the extrahepatic bile duct and the ampulla of Vater, including the tumor, without performing PD by dissecting the intrapancreatic bile duct from the pancreas both downward towards the ampulla of Vater and upward using a transduodenal approach.

RESULTS

The operation was successfully completed, and the postoperative course was uneventful, with the exception of a minor pancreatic fistula from retropancreatic dissection. The final pathological examination demonstrated well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma limited to the mucosa with negative surgical margins.

CONCLUSION

Complete resection of the extrahepatic bile duct and the ampulla of Vater through a transduodenal approach can be a feasible and safe surgical procedure for selected ampullary tumors in high-risk patients.

Surgical strategy of biliary papillomatosis in Western countries

Surgical resection, considered the optimal treatment of biliary papillomatosis, often remains incomplete due to high risk of recurrence in view of positive margins or recurrence on the remnant bile duct because of its multifocality. Resection of the whole biliary tree by liver transplantation and duodenopancreatectomy can be regarded as the only curative treatment. However, this approach has resulted in unfavorable results in patients with advanced tumor invasion and/or positive lymph nodes. For the majority of biliary tumors, preoperative assessment is often insufficient. Therefore, we advocate initial partial resection as a first step to eliminate both advanced tumor invasion and/or positive lymph nodes on definitive analysis of the specimen. We propose the strategy of initial resection for selecting the patients who would actually benefit from liver transplantation.