Role of laparoscopic ultrasound during diagnostic laparoscopy for proximal biliary cancers: a single series of 100 patients

The Role of Staging Laparoscopy for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Snapshot of the Current Literature

Background: Accurate preoperative workup is crucial to identify patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHC) who would have truly benefit from liver resection, avoiding it in patients with advanced disease or distant metastases. Staging laparoscopy (SL) may prevent unnecessary laparotomies in those patients with otherwise resectable disease, but evidence of its efficacy is scarce and inconclusive. We aimed to aggregate the available evidence dealing with this specific field of research to produce a snapshot of the current knowledge systematically reviewing the inherent literature. Methods: PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, and Web of Sciences electronic databases were queried through December 2022. Inclusion criteria considered all articles reporting data about the role of SL for patients with a diagnosis of IHC. The main outcomes were as follows: overall yield and sensitivity of SL. Results: A total of 5 studies including 119 patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Overall, the yield of SL was 19.6% (11.4%-36%), and the sensitivity was 65.2% (55%-71%). Conclusions: The role of SL for patients with a preoperative diagnosis of IHC remains unclear. The lack of criteria and indications to perform SL for IHC raises the need for international consensus on this specific field of research.

Recurrence after Curative Resection for Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: How to Predict the Chance of Repeat Hepatectomy?

(1) Background: Tumor recurrence after liver resection (LR) for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is common. Repeat liver resection (RLR) for recurrent ICC results in good survival outcomes in selected patients. The aim of this study was to investigate factors affecting the chance of resectability of recurrent ICC. (2) Methods: LR for ICC performed between January 2001 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who had undergone first LR were considered for the study. Data on recurrences were analyzed. A logistic regression model was used for multivariable analysis of factors related to RLR rate. (3) Results: In total, 140 patients underwent LR for ICC. Major/extended hepatectomies were required in 105 (75%) cases. The 90-day mortality was 5.7%, Clavien–Dindo grade 3, 4 complications were 9.3%, N+ disease was observed in 32.5%, and the median OS was 38.3 months. Recurrence occurred in 91 patients (65%). The site of relapse was the liver in 53 patients (58.2%). RLR was performed in 21 (39.6%) patients. Factors that negatively affected RLR were time to recurrence ≤12 months (OR 7.4, 95% CI 1.68–33.16, p = 0.008) and major hepatectomy (OR 16.7, 95% CI 3.8–73.78, p < 0.001) at first treatment. Survival after recurrence was better in patients who underwent RLR as compared with not resected patients (31 vs. 13.2 months, p = 0.02). (4) Conclusions: Patients with ICC treated at first resection with major hepatectomy and those who recurred in ≤12 months had significantly lower probability to receive a second resection for recurrence.

Italian Clinical Practice Guidelines on Cholangiocarcinoma - Part II: Treatment

Currently, the only curative treatment for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is surgical resection, though this treatment is possible in less than 40% of patients. However, recent improvements in preoperative management have led to a higher number of patients who are candidates for this procedure. For unresectable patients, progress is ongoing in terms of locoregional and chemoradiation treatments and target therapies, especially in the definition of patient selection criteria. This is the second part of the Italian CCA guidelines, dealing with CCA treatment, that have been formulated in accordance with Italian National Institute of Health indications and developed according to the GRADE method and related advancements.

Impact of anthropometric data on technical difficulty of laparoscopic liver of resections of segments 7 and 8: the CHALLENGE index

BACKGROUND

The high technical difficulty of using a laparoscopic approach to reach the posterosuperior liver segments is mainly associated with their poor accessibility. This study was performed to analyze correlations between anthropometric data and intraoperative outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN

All patients who underwent segmentectomy or wedge laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) of segments seven and/or eight from June 2012 to November 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The exclusion criteria were intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, associated resection, multiple concomitant LLR, redo resection, and lack of preoperative imaging. Anthropometric data were correlated with intraoperative outcomes.

RESULTS

Forty-one patients (wedge resection, n = 32; segmentectomy, n = 9) were analyzed. A strong correlation was found between the craniocaudal liver diameter (CCliv) and liver volume (r = 0.655, p < 0.001). The anteroposterior liver diameter was moderately correlated with both the laterolateral abdominal diameter (LLabd) (r = 0.372, p = 0.008) and anteroposterior abdominal diameter (r = 0.371, p = 0.008). The body mass index (BMI) was not correlated with liver diameters. Women had a longer CCliv (p = 0.002) and shorter LLabd (p < 0.001) than men. The liver and abdominal measurements were combined to reduce this sex-related disparity. The CCliv/LLabd ratio (CHALLENGE index) was significantly correlated with the time of transection (r = 0.382, p = 0.037) and blood loss (r = 0.352, p = 0.029). The association between the CHALLENGE index and intraoperative blood loss was even stronger when considering only anatomical resection (r = 0.577, p = 0.048). A CHALLENGE index of > 0.4 (area under the curve, 0.757; p = 0.046) indicated a higher bleeding risk. The BMI predicted no intraoperative outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Anthropometric data rather than the BMI can help anticipate the difficulty of LLR of segments seven and eight.

Current Advances in Minimally Invasive Surgical Management of Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

While the safety of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has been reported for several liver malignancies, the role of MIS in the management of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) has been poorly defined.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was performed utilizing MEDLINE/PubMed and Web of Science databases up to January 2020 to assess the safety and feasibility of MIS in the management of patients with pCCA.

RESULTS

Limited data exist on the MIS approach to treat pCCA. Staging laparoscopy carries a low diagnostic yield and typically is used only in select patients with high suspicion of metastatic disease. Data on the use of MIS approach for resection of pCCA have largely been limited to case reports or small case series. A MIS approach to pCCA resection has been demonstrated to be feasible and safe, yet in most series the surgeon failed to include resection of the caudate lobe. Given that caudate lobe involvement occurs in 31-98% of patients with pCCA, incomplete resection of the caudate lobe may be associated with higher local recurrence. More recently, several surgeons have reported complete R0 surgical with removal of the caudate lobe using a MIS approach. While patients may have a shorter length-of-stay, the true benefit of the MIS approach for pCCA needs to be better defined.

CONCLUSIONS

MIS may be a safe and feasible approach at high-volume centers with robust expertise in the management of patients with pCCA. Further studies with larger number of patients are required prior to universal application of MIS for pCCA.

Staging Laparoscopy in Patients with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: Is It Still Useful?

Background

The role of staging laparoscopy in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma remains unclear. Despite extensive preoperative imaging, approximately 25% of patients are deemed unresectable at laparotomy due to metastasized disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of unresectable disease found at staging laparoscopy and to identify predictors for detecting metastasized intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Methods

We retrospectively collected records of all patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, presenting at our institution from 2008 to 2017. Staging laparoscopy was performed on the suspicion of distant metastases and on indication in larger tumors. The yield and sensitivity of staging laparoscopy was calculated. Reasons for unresectability at staging laparoscopy or laparotomy were recorded.

Results

Among a total of 80 patients with potentially resectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, 35 patients underwent staging laparoscopy on the suspicion of distant metastases. Unresectable disease was found at staging laparoscopy in 15 patients. Reasons for unresectability were liver metastasis (n = 6), peritoneal metastasis (n = 4), severe cirrhosis (n = 2), locally advanced tumor with satellite lesions (n = 1), and distant lymph node metastasis (n = 2). Considering optimal preoperative imaging, the true yield of staging laparoscopy was 20% (7/35). Two patients did not undergo laparotomy due to progression after staging laparoscopy. Of the remaining 18 patients who underwent laparotomy, 6 patients (30%) had unresectable disease, mostly because of distant metastasis (n = 4).

Conclusions

The role of staging laparoscopy to detect unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is highly dependent on the quality of preoperative imaging. Currently, no accurate selection criteria on imaging exist to select patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma who potentially benefit from staging laparoscopy.

Surgical Considerations of Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma is an aggressive malignancy of the extrahepatic bile ducts. Hilar lesions are most common. Patients present with obstructive jaundice and intrahepatic bile duct dilation. Cross-sectional imaging reveals local, regional, and distant extent of disease, with direct cholangiography providing tissue for diagnosis. The consensus of a multidisciplinary committee dictates treatment. Resection of the extrahepatic bile duct and ipsilateral hepatic lobe with or without vascular resection and transplantation after neoadjuvant protocol are options for curative treatment. The goal of surgery is to remove the tumor with negative margins. Patients with inoperable tumors or metastatic disease are best served with palliative chemoradiotherapy.

Schwannoma in the porta hepatis - laparoscopic excision under laparoscopic ultrasound guidance

Schwannomas are usually benign tumors attached to peripheral nerves and are rarely found in the gastrointestinal tract. Schwannomas in the porta hepatis are extremely rare, with only 15 cases described in the literature to date. A 22-year-old female patient presented with colicky upper abdominal pain lasting 3 months. Magnetic resonance imaging of the abdominal cavity revealed a tumor in the porta hepatis. The patient was qualified for laparoscopy. The tumor was totally excised laparoscopically under guidance of laparoscopic ultrasound without intra- or postoperative complications. Postoperative histopathological examination confirmed the porta hepatic schwannoma. The patient recovered uneventfully with very good cosmetic results. In the follow-up period of 5 months we have not observed any abdominal or general health problems. The present case is the first report in the world of laparoscopic ultrasound guided laparoscopic excision of a porta hepatic schwannoma.

The role of minimally invasive surgery in the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) is the second most common type of primary liver cancer after hepatocellular carcinoma. Surgical resection is considered the only curative treatment for CC. In general, laparoscopic liver surgery (LLS) is associated with improved short-term outcomes without compromising the long-term oncological outcome. However, the role of LLS in the treatment of CC is not yet well established. In addition, CC may arise in any tract of the biliary tree, thus requiring different types of treatment, including pancreatectomies and extrahepatic bile duct resections. This review presents and discusses the state of the art in the laparoscopic and robotic surgical treatment of all types of CC. An electronic search was performed to identify all studies dealing with laparoscopic or robotic surgery and cholangiocarcinoma. Laparoscopic resection in patients with intrahepatic CC (ICC) is feasible and safe. Regarding oncologic adequacy, as R0 resections, depth of margins, and long-term overall and disease-free survival, laparoscopy is comparable to open procedures for ICC. An adequate patient selection is required to obtain optimal results. Use of laparoscopy in perihilar CC (PHC) has not gained popularity. Further studies are still needed to confirm the benefit of this approach over conventional surgery for PHC. Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy for distal CC (DCC) represents one of the most advanced abdominal operations owing to the necessity of a complex dissection and reconstruction and has also had small widespread so far. Minimally invasive surgery seems feasible and safe especially for ICC. Laparoscopy for PHC is technically challenging notably for the caudate lobectomy. Not least as for the LLR, the robotic approach for DCC appears technically achievable in selected patients.

Development of a Risk Score to Predict Detection of Metastasized or Locally Advanced Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma at Staging Laparoscopy

Background

Nearly half of patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC) have incurable tumors at laparotomy. Staging laparoscopy (SL) potentially detects metastases or locally advanced disease, thereby avoiding unnecessary laparotomy. However, the diagnostic yield of SL has decreased with improved imaging in recent years.

Objective

The aim of this study was to identify predictors for detecting metastasized or locally advanced PHC at SL and to develop a risk score to select patients who may benefit most from this procedure.

Methods

Data of patients with potentially resectable PHC who underwent SL between 2000 and 2015 in our center were retrospectively analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors and to develop a preoperative risk score.

Results

Unresectable PHC was detected in 41 of 273 patients undergoing SL (yield 15 %). Overall sensitivity of SL was 30 %, with highest sensitivity for detecting peritoneal metastases (73 %). Preoperative imaging factors that were independently associated with unresectability at SL were tumor size ≥4.5 cm, bilateral portal vein involvement, suspected lymph node metastases, and suspected (extra)hepatic metastases on imaging without the possibility of diagnosis by percutaneous- or endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy. The derived preoperative risk score showed good discrimination to predict unresectability (area under the curve 0.77, 95 % confidence interval 0.68–0.86) and identified three subgroups with a predicted low-risk of 7 % (N = 203 patients), intermediate-risk of 21 % (N = 39), and high-risk of 58 % (N = 31).

Conclusions

A selective approach for SL in PHC is recommended since the overall yield is low. The proposed preoperative risk score is useful in selecting patients for SL.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1245/s10434-016-5531-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Diagnostic accuracy of staging laparoscopy for detecting metastasized or locally advanced perihilar cholangiocarcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Despite extensive preoperative staging, still almost half of patients with potentially resectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC) have locally advanced or metastasized disease upon exploratory laparotomy. The value of routine staging laparoscopy (SL) in these patients remains unclear with varying results reported in the literature. The aim of the present systematic review was to provide an overview of studies on SL in PHC and to define its current role in preoperative staging.

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed in PubMed and EMBASE regarding studies providing data on the diagnostic accuracy of SL in PHC. Primary outcome measures were the overall yield and sensitivity to detect unresectable disease. Secondary outcomes were the yield and sensitivity for recent studies (after 2010) and large study cohorts (≥100 patients) and specific (metastatic) lesions. Methodological quality of studies was assessed with the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool.

RESULTS

From 173 records, 12 studies including 832 patients met the inclusion criteria. The yield of SL in PHC varied from 6.4 to 45.0 % with a pooled yield of 24.4 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) 16.4-33.4]. Sensitivity to detect unresectable disease ranged from 31.6 to 75 % with a pooled sensitivity of 52.2 % (95 % CI 47.1-57.2). Sensitivity was highest for peritoneal metastases (80.7 %, 95 % CI 70.9-88.3). Subgroup analysis revealed that the yield and sensitivity tended to be lower for studies after 2010. Considerable heterogeneity was detected among the studies.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the pooled analyses suggest that one in four patients with potentially resectable PHC benefits from SL. Given considerable heterogeneity, a trend to lower yield in more recent studies and further improvement of preoperative imaging over time, the routine use of SL seems discouraging. Studies that identify predictors of unresectability, that enable selection of patients who will benefit the most from this procedure, are needed.