The Impact of MDCT and Endoscopic Transpapillary Mapping Biopsy to Predict Longitudinal Spread of Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Practice guidelines for managing extrahepatic biliary tract cancers

Backgrounds/Aims

Reported incidence of extrahepatic bile duct cancer is higher in Asians than in Western populations. Korea, in particular, is one of the countries with the highest incidence rates of extrahepatic bile duct cancer in the world. Although research and innovative therapeutic modalities for extrahepatic bile duct cancer are emerging, clinical guidelines are currently unavailable in Korea. The Korean Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery in collaboration with related societies (Korean Pancreatic and Biliary Surgery Society, Korean Society of Abdominal Radiology, Korean Society of Medical Oncology, Korean Society of Radiation Oncology, Korean Society of Pathologists, and Korean Society of Nuclear Medicine) decided to establish clinical guideline for extrahepatic bile duct cancer in June 2021.

Methods

Contents of the guidelines were developed through subgroup meetings for each key question and a preliminary draft was finalized through a Clinical Guidelines Committee workshop.

Results

In November 2021, the finalized draft was presented for public scrutiny during a formal hearing.

Conclusions

The extrahepatic guideline committee believed that this guideline could be helpful in the treatment of patients.

Comparison of unilateral and bilateral intraductal plastic stent placement for unresectable malignant hilar biliary obstruction: A propensity score-matched cohort analysis

BACKGROUND

Although intraductal plastic stent (IS) placement is an effective treatment for unresectable malignant hilar biliary obstruction (UMHBO), the effectiveness of unilateral and bilateral IS drainage remains controversial. This retrospective study investigated the effectiveness of bilateral IS placement for UMHBO using the propensity score matching method.

METHODS

Patients who underwent transpapillary endoscopic stenting for UMHBO were analyzed for technical and clinical success, adverse events, and time to recurrent biliary obstruction (TRBO).

RESULTS

A total of 321 patients were enrolled in the study with 27 patients in each unilateral and bilateral IS group in the propensity score-based cohort. Technical success was 100%, while clinical success was 93% and 96% in the unilateral and bilateral IS groups, respectively (p = 1.0). Cholecystitis occurred in 4% and 7%, respectively (p = 1.0). The median TRBO was shorter in the unilateral group (129 [5-383] days) than that in the bilateral group (226 [16-563] days) (p = .0281). Bilateral IS placement was an independent long TRBO factor (hazard ratio [HR] 0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.21-0.97; p = .041).

CONCLUSIONS

Unilateral and bilateral IS placement had high technical and clinical success rates in primary stent placement. However, bilateral IS placement showed a longer TRBO. Bilateral IS placement may be a good option for initial UMHBO drainage.

Real-Time Fluorescence Imaging to Identify Cholangiocarcinoma in the Extrahepatic Biliary Tree Using an Enzyme-Activatable Probe

Introduction

Complete resection is the only possible treatment for cholangiocarcinoma in the extrahepatic biliary tree (eCCA), although current imaging modalities are limited in their ability to accurately diagnose longitudinal spread. We aimed to develop fluorescence imaging techniques for real-time identification of eCCA using an enzyme-activatable probe, which emits fluorescence immediately after activation by a cancer-specific enzyme.

Methods

Using lysates and small tissue fragments collected from surgically resected specimens, we selected the most specific probe for eCCA from among 800 enzyme-activatable probes. The selected probe was directly sprayed onto resected specimens and fluorescence images were acquired; these images were evaluated for diagnostic accuracy. We also comprehensively searched for enzymes that could activate the probe, then compared their expression levels in cancer and non-cancer tissues.

Results

Analyses of 19 samples (four cancer lysates, seven non-cancer lysates, and eight bile samples) and 54 tissue fragments (13 cancer tissues and 41 non-cancer tissues) revealed that PM-2MeSiR was the most specific fluorophore for eCCA. Fluorescence images of 7 patients were obtained; these images enabled rapid identification of cancerous regions, which closely matched histopathology findings in 4 patients. Puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase was identified as the enzyme that might activate the probe, and its expression was upregulated in eCCA.

Conclusion

Fluorescence imaging with PM-2MeSiR, which may be activated by puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase, yielded generally high accuracy. This technique may be useful for real-time identification of the spread of eCCA during surgery and endoscopic examinations.

Accuracy and limitations of preoperative assessment of longitudinal spread of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Although surgical resection offers the only chance of cure of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma and R1 resection has a poor prognosis, there is no consensus on optimal preoperative assessment of its longitudinal spread. We aimed to establish the optimal means of achieving this goal.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, single-center study of 61 patients who had undergone multi-detector row computed tomography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, intraductal ultrasonography, and mapping biopsy prior to resection of perihilar cholangiocarcinomas in our institute from January 2010 and December 2021.

RESULTS

The most accurate single methods for assessing longitudinal spread were intraductal ultrasonography and mapping biopsy (both 72.1%). A combination of all four assessment methods was accurate in 51 (83.6%) of our patients. Independent risk factors for inaccuracy were Bismuth-Corlette Type IV and high histologic-grade tumors. The R0 resection rate was higher with accurate than inaccurate assessments (90.2% vs. 30.0%, P < 0.001). R0 resection was associated with significantly better relapse-free survival than R1 resection (P = 0.006). However, overall survival did not differ between these groups.

CONCLUSION

Preoperative assessment of longitudinal spread of perihilar cholangiocarcinomas by four different modalities is optimal, achieving 83.6% accuracy and a 90.2% R0 resection rate.

The short- and long-term outcomes of pancreaticoduodenectomy for distal cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to calculate the short-term and long-term outcomes of curative-intent surgery in distal cholangiocarcinoma (DCC) patients to identify potential prognostic factors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of 32 consecutive DCC patients treated with pancreaticoduodenectomy between 2009-2017. The clinicopathological and histopathological data were evaluated for prognostic factors using the univariable Cox regression analysis. The Overall Survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

The study comprised a total of 32 patients, with a mean age of 65.8 (± 9.0) years at the time of surgery. R0 resection was achieved in 25 (86.2%) patients, 19 (65.5%) patients received adjuvant oncological therapy. The OS rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 62.5%, 37.5% and 21.9%, respectively. The 90-day mortality was 3/32 (9.4%) accounting for one-fourth of the first-year mortality rate. The median OS was 28.5 months. The only statistically significant prognostic factor was vascular resection, which was associated with worse OS in the univariable analysis (HR: 3.644; 95%-CI: 1.179-11.216, P=0.025). An age less than 65 years, ASA grade I/II, hospital stay of fewer than 15 days, R0 resection, lymph node ratio less than 0.2 and adjuvant oncological therapy tended to be associated with better OS but without statistically significant relevance.

CONCLUSION

The main factor directly influencing the survival of DCC patients is surgical complications. Surgical mortality comprises a significant group of patients, who die in the first year following pancreaticoduodenectomy. Vascular resection is the most important negative prognostic factor for long-term survival.

Screening for hilar biliary invasion in ampullary cancer patients

BACKGROUND

The treatment for ampullary cancer is pancreatoduodenectomy or local ampullectomy. However, effective methods for the preoperative investigation of hilar biliary invasion in ampullary cancer patients have not yet been identified.

AIM

To determine the necessity of and an appropriate method for investigating hilar biliary invasion of ampullary cancer.

METHODS

Among 43 ampullary cancer patients, 34 underwent endoscopic treatment (n = 9) or surgery (n = 25). The use of imaging findings (thickening and enhancement of the bile duct wall on contrast-enhanced computed tomography, irregularity on endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, thickening of the entire bile duct wall on intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS), and partial thickening of the bile duct wall on IDUS) and biliary biopsy results for diagnosing hilar biliary invasion of ampullary cancer was compared.

RESULTS

Hilar invasion was not observed in every patient. Among the patients who did not undergo biliary stent insertion, the combination of partial thickening of the bile duct wall on IDUS and biliary biopsy results showed the highest accuracy (100%) for diagnosing hilar biliary invasion. However, each imaging method and biliary biopsy yielded some false-positive results.

CONCLUSION

Although some false-positive results were obtained with each method, the combination of partial thickening of the bile duct wall on IDUS and biliary biopsy results was useful for diagnosing hilar biliary invasion of ampullary cancer. However, hilar invasion of ampullary cancer is rare; therefore, the investigation of hilar biliary invasion of ampullary cancer might be unnecessary.

Current endoscopic approaches to biliary strictures

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To summarize the current status and future perspectives of the endoscopic management of biliary strictures.

RECENT FINDINGS

In addition to conventional diagnostic modalities, such as cross-sectional imaging and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), per-oral cholangioscopy is helpful for indeterminate biliary strictures. It allows direct visualization of the biliary tract and targeted biopsy. For distal malignant biliary obstruction (MBO), a self-expandable metal stent (SEMS) via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a standard of care. EUS-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD) is an emerging alternative to percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage in cases with failed ERCP. EUS-BD is also an effective salvage option for perihilar MBO, which can not be managed via ERCP or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. Preoperative drainage is necessary for most jaundiced patients as neoadjuvant chemotherapy is widely administered for resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, and a SEMS is preferred in this setting, too. For benign biliary strictures, a covered SEMS can improve stricture resolution and reduce the number of endoscopic sessions as compared to plastic stents.

SUMMARY

ERCP and EUS play a central role in the diagnosis and drainage for both malignant and benign biliary strictures.

Converted-hepatopancreatoduodenectomy for an intraoperative positive ductal margin after pancreatoduodenectomy in distal cholangiocarcinoma

PURPOSE

Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) is the standard treatment for distal cholangiocarcinoma, and a negative ductal margin (DM0) is indispensable for the long-term survival. When intraoperative frozen sections of ductal margin after PD are positive, converted-hepatopancreatoduodenectomy (C-HPD) is the final option available to gain an additional ductal margin. However, the efficacy of C-HPD remains unclear.

METHODS

Patients who underwent PD or C-HPD for distal cholangiocarcinoma between 2002 and 2019 were analyzed. The type of hepatectomy in C-HPD was restricted to left hepatectomy to prevent posthepatectomy liver failure.

RESULTS

Of 203 patients who underwent PD for distal cholangiocarcinoma, 49 patients exhibited intraoperative positive ductal margin (DM1) after PD. Eleven patients underwent C-HPD for intraoperative DM1 after PD, in which intraoperative DM1 with invasive carcinoma (DM1inv) was observed in 3 patients, and intraoperative DM1 with carcinoma in situ (DM1cis) was observed in 8 patients. The median additional ductal margin yielded by C-HPD was 9 mm (interquartile range 7-13 mm). C-HPD eradicated intraoperative DM1inv in 3 patients, with 2 patients showing DM0 and 1 patient showing DM1cis. Regarding 8 patients who underwent C-HPD for intraoperative DM1cis, 4 patients had DM0, but the others had DM1cis. C-HPD was associated with a high complication rate, but no mortality was observed. The median survival time of patients who underwent C-HPD was 48.8 months.

CONCLUSION

C-HPD was able to safely eradicate intraoperative DM1inv after PD. However, the length of the resected bile duct according to C-HPD may not be sufficient to remove intraoperative DM1cis after PD.

Comparison of tube-assisted mapping biopsy with digital single-operator peroral cholangioscopy for preoperative evaluation of biliary tract cancer

Background/Aims

Digital single-operator cholangioscopy (DSOC)-guided mapping biopsy (DMB) and tube-assisted mapping biopsy (TMB) are two techniques used for preoperative evaluation of biliary tract cancer (BTC). However, data regarding the diagnostic performance of these techniques are limited.

Methods

We retrospectively examined consecutive patients with BTC who underwent either technique at our institution between 2018 and 2020. We evaluated the technical success rate, adequate tissue acquisition rate, and diagnostic performance of these techniques for the evaluation of lateral spread of BTC.

Results

A total of 54 patients were included in the study. The technical success rate of reaching the target sites was 95% for DMB and 100% for TMB. The adequate tissue acquisition rate was 61% for DMB and 69% for TMB. The adequate tissue acquisition rate was low, especially for target sites beyond the secondary biliary radicles. The sensitivity of DMB alone was 39%, which improved to 65% when combined with visual impression. Experts demonstrated a higher negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy with respect to both DSOC visual impression and DMB for the evaluation of lateral spread of BTC compared to trainees.

Conclusions

Adequate tissue acquisition rates were similar between the two techniques. Since DMB requires expertise, TMB may be an acceptable option when DSOC is unavailable or when DSOC expertise is limited.

Multidetector CT of Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer: Diagnostic Performance of Tumor Resectability and Interreader Agreement

Background In extrahepatic bile duct (EHD) cancer, accurate assessment of resectability is essential for curative surgery, but pertinent guidelines from the perspectives of radiologists are yet to be developed. Purpose To investigate the performance of multiphasic CT in the assessment of longitudinal tumor extent, vascular invasion, and resectability of EHD cancer according to the Korean Society of Abdominal Radiology consensus recommendation and to evaluate the interreader agreement. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included patients with EHD cancer who underwent multiphasic CT examinations with section thickness of 3 mm or less before surgery from January 2016 to December 2018. Four abdominal radiologists independently evaluated the overall and biliary segment-wise longitudinal tumor extent, the presence of hepatic artery and/or portal vein invasion, and the resectability according to the Korean Society of Abdominal Radiology recommendations. The diagnostic performance was assessed with sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Interreader agreement was determined using κ statistics. Results A total of 112 patients (mean age ± SD, 61 years ± 11; 73 men) were evaluated. The accuracy of the overall longitudinal tumor extent assessment ranged from 56.3% (63 of 112 patients) to 74.1% (83 of 112 patients). The sensitivity for detecting secondary confluence involvement (n = 62) was lower than that for the primary confluence or intrapancreatic duct (n = 115; 38.5%-75% vs 72.1%-96.3%, respectively). Vascular invasion (n = 17) had moderate sensitivity (28.6%-71.4%) and high specificity (77.5%-99.0%). For predicting negative-margin (R0) resection (n = 85), the sensitivity and specificity ranged from 71.8% to 96.5% and from 11.1% to 66.7%, respectively, and the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve ranged from 0.69 to 0.80. Interreader agreements for tumor extent, vascular invasion, and resectability had κ values of 0.65-0.89, 0.21-0.64, and 0.35-0.56, respectively. Conclusion For the preoperative evaluation of extrahepatic bile duct cancer, the Korean Society of Abdominal Radiology consensus recommendation enabled systematic assessment of longitudinal tumor extent and vascular invasion with acceptable performance in predicting negative-margin resection with use of multiphasic CT and with fair to good interreader agreement. © RSNA, 2022 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Diagnostic value of peroral cholangioscopy in addition to computed tomography for indeterminate biliary strictures

BACKGROUND

Peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) has been used to overcome the difficulty in diagnosing indeterminate biliary stricture or tumor spread. However, the value of adding POCS to computed tomography (CT) remains unclear. Our aim was to evaluate the diagnostic value of adding POCS to CT for indeterminate biliary stricture and tumor spread by interpretation of images focusing on the high diagnostic accuracy of visual findings in POCS.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified 52 patients with biliary stricture who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) at our institution between January 2013 and December 2018. Two teams, each composed of an expert endoscopist and surgeon, performed the interpretation independently, referring to the CT findings of the radiologist. The CT + ERC + POCS images (POCS group) were evaluated 4 weeks after the evaluation of CT + ERC images (CT group). A 5-point scale (1: definitely benign to 5: definitely malignant) was used to determine the confident diagnosis rate, which was defined as an evaluation value of 1 or 5. Tumor spread was also evaluated.

RESULTS

In the evaluation of 45 malignant diagnoses, the score was significantly closer to 5 in the POCS group than in the CT group in both teams (P < 0.001). The confident diagnosis rate was significantly higher for the POCS group (92% and 73%) than for the CT group (25% and 12%) in teams 1 and 2, respectively (P < 0.001). We found no significant difference in diagnostic accuracy for tumor spread between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Visual POCS findings confirmed the diagnosis of biliary strictures. POCS was useful in cases of indefinite diagnosis of biliary strictures by CT.

Current Status and Recent Update of Imaging Evaluation for Peri-Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma

간문주변부의 해부학적 복잡성으로 인해 간문주변부 담관암은 그 진단과 치료가 어려운 질환으로 알려져 있다. 간문주변부 담관암이 의심되는 환자에 있어서, 영상 검사는 이상 소견의 발견 및 감별 진단, 종양의 종축 침범 부위의 파악, 인접 혈관 침범과 원격 전이 유무의 파악, 그리고 최종적으로 수술적 절제 가능 유무의 평가에 있어 핵심적인 역할을 하고 있다. 이 종설에서는 간문주변부 담관암의 분류 및 종양의 평가를 위해 권고되는 표준 영상 검사의 기법과 간문주변부 담관암의 전형적인 영상 소견에 대해 기술할 예정이다. 종축 방향의 종양 침범 파악, 인접 혈관 침범 및 원격 전이 유무의 평가에 있어서 각 영상 검사 소견과 그 진단능에 대해 논의할 예정이다. 이후 전통적인 절제 가능성 평가의 개념에 대해 고찰하고, 최근의 경향을 소개한다.

5-Aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic activity in patient-derived cholangiocarcinoma organoids

BACKGROUND

Accurate diagnosis of the disease extension of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is often difficult in clinical practice. The diagnostic yield of conventional pre-operative imaging or endoscopic procedures is sometimes insufficient for the evaluation of longitudinal spreading of CCA. Here we investigated the usefulness of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) for the pre- or intra-operative diagnosis of CCA, using patient-derived organoids.

METHODS

Four CCA- and two adjacent tissue-derived organoids were established. After 5-ALA treatment, we assessed their photodynamic activity using fluorescence microscopy.

RESULTS

CCA organoids established from different patients showed diverse morphology in contrast to monolayer structures of non-tumor organoids, and had the ability to form subcutaneous tumors in immunodeficient mice. CCA organoids demonstrated remarkably high photodynamic activity based on higher accumulation of protoporphyrin IX as a metabolite of 5-ALA compared to non-tumor organoids (40-71% vs. < 4%, respectively). Importantly, cancer cell-specific high photodynamic activity distinguished the organoids originated from biliary stenotic lesions from those of non-stenotic lesions in a CCA patient. The high photodynamic activity did not depend on the expression profile of heme biosynthesis genes.

CONCLUSIONS

Distinct 5-ALA-based photodynamic activity could have diagnostic potential for the discrimination of CCA from non-tumor tissues.

Retrospective Comparative Study of Side-by-Side and Stent-in-Stent Metal Stent Placement for Hilar Malignant Biliary Obstruction

BACKGROUND

In patients with unresectable hilar malignant biliary obstruction (MBO), bilateral metal stent placement is recommended. However, treatment selection between partially stent-in-stent (SIS) and side-by-side (SBS) methods is still controversial.

STUDY

Clinical outcomes of bilateral metal stent placement by SBS and SIS methods for hilar MBO were retrospectively studied in four Japanese centers. While large-cell-type uncovered metal stents were placed above the papilla in SIS, braided-type uncovered metal stents were placed across the papilla in SBS.

RESULTS

A total of 64 patients with hilar MBO (40 SIS and 24 SBS) were included in the analysis. Technical success rate was 100% in SIS and 96% in SBS. Functional success rate was 93% in SIS and 96% in SBS. Early adverse event rates were higher in SBS (46%) than in SIS (23%), though not statistically significant (P = 0.09). Post-procedure pancreatitis was exclusively observed in SBS group (29%). Recurrent biliary obstruction rates were 48% and 43%, and the median time to recurrent biliary obstruction was 169 and 205 days in SIS and SBS, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Other than a trend to higher adverse event rates including post-procedure pancreatitis in SBS, clinical outcomes of SIS and SBS methods were comparable in patients with unresectable hilar MBO.

Cholangioscopy- versus fluoroscopy-guided transpapillary mapping biopsy for preoperative evaluation of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a prospective randomized crossover study

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the lateral extent of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, the value of cholangioscopy-guided mapping biopsy (CMB) compared with that of fluoroscopy-guided mapping biopsy (FMB) remains unknown. The aim of this study was to compare these two techniques.

METHODS

In this prospective, randomized, crossover study, both CMB and FMB techniques were performed for all patients in a randomized order. Target sites for the mapping biopsy were determined based on resection lines of possible surgical procedures. At least two biopsy strokes were attempted at each target site. The primary outcome was the rate of site-based successful biopsies, which was defined as acquisition of epithelium-containing material appropriate for diagnosing benignancy/malignancy from each site, regardless of amount of materials obtained from the same site.

RESULTS

Between September 2016 and October 2018, 28 patients (16 distal bile duct cancer and 12 perihilar bile duct cancer) were enrolled and divided into two groups of 14 patients: CMB first and FMB first. Although all 118 target sites could be approached using CMB, FMB forceps reached only 71% of them with significantly poor accessibility to the B2/3 confluence. Since several materials were too small and did not contain epithelium, the overall rates of site-based successful biopsies were 78% (92/118) using CMB and 64% (76/118) using FMB (P = 0.031).

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of site-based successful biopsies using CMB was significantly higher than that using FMB when evaluated using specimens obtained from several biopsy strokes.

Radiologic Evaluation and Structured Reporting Form for Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer: 2019 Consensus Recommendations from the Korean Society of Abdominal Radiology

Radiologic imaging is important for evaluating extrahepatic bile duct (EHD) cancers; it is used for staging tumors and evaluating the suitability of surgical resection, as surgery may be contraindicated in some cases regardless of tumor stage. However, the published general recommendations for EHD cancer and recommendations guided by the perspectives of radiologists are limited. The Korean Society of Abdominal Radiology (KSAR) study group for EHD cancer developed key questions and corresponding recommendations for the radiologic evaluation of EHD cancer and organized them into 4 sections: nomenclature and definition, imaging technique, cancer evaluation, and tumor response. A structured reporting form was also developed to allow the progressive accumulation of standardized data, which will facilitate multicenter studies and contribute more evidence for the development of recommendations.