Gallbladder cancer and trocar site recurrences

Metastasis to Breast From Carcinoma Gallbladder: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the commonest malignancy among biliary tract cancers. Locoregional spread in GBC is more common than distant metastasis. The liver and abdominal lymph nodes is the most common site of distant metastasis. Breast metastasis is a rare site of dissemination. GBC is an aggressive tumor and carries a poor prognosis, with a five-year survival rate of less than 10%. Metastasis to the breast from a gallbladder is significantly less and accounts for very few cases. Here, we are reporting a rare case of carcinoma gallbladder metastasis to the breast who survived for 38 months from the diagnosis of GBC and around 25 months after breast metastasis.

Selective Histological Examination After Cholecystectomy: An Analysis of Current Daily Practice in The Netherlands

BACKGROUND

The 2016 Dutch national guidelines on handling of a removed gallbladder for cholelithiasis proposes a selective histopathologic policy (Sel-HP) rather than routine policy (Rout-HP). The aim of this study was to determine the current implementation of the present guideline and the daily practice of Sel-HP.

METHODS

Surgeons who were engaged in gallbladder surgery in the Netherlands and were involved in local hospitals' gallbladder protocols completed a questionnaire study regarding gallbladder policy, between December 2017 and May 2018. Data were analyzed using standard statistics.

RESULTS

A 100% response rate was obtained (n = 74). Approximately 64% of all gallbladders (n = 22,500) were examined microscopically. Sixty-nine (93.2%) hospitals confirmed they were aware of the new guidelines, and 56 (75.7%) knew the guideline was adjusted in favor of Sel-HP. Half of the hospitals (n = 35, 47.3%) had adopted a Sel-HP, and 39 (52.7%) a Rout-HP. Of the 39 hospitals who had a Rout-HP, 36 were open to a transition to a Sel-HP although some expressed the need for more evidence on safety or novel guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

The current implementation of the 2016 Dutch guideline advising a selective microscopic analysis of removed gallbladders for gallstone disease is suboptimal. Evidence demonstrating safety and cost-effectiveness of an on demand histopathological examination will aid in the implementation process.

Early Gallbladder Carcinoma: A Single-Center Experience

Aims and background

Controversy continues regarding the best surgical treatment for early gallbladder carcinoma defined as a tumor confined to the mucosa (pT1a) or to the muscularis propria (pT1 b) according to the TNM classification. This study evaluates the effectiveness of different surgical approaches in patients with early gallbladder carcinoma in terms of long-term survival.

Materials and methods

From 1980 to 2001, 175 patients with gallbladder carcinoma were admitted to our department. Fifteen of them underwent resections for early gallbladder carcinoma: 4 patients for pT1a tumors and 11 patients for pT1b tumors. All patients with pT1a tumors and 8 patients with pT1b tumors underwent simple cholecystectomy. The remaining 3 patients with pT1 b tumors underwent extended cholecystectomy.

Results

The 5-10 year cumulative survival rate was 100% for patients with pT1a tumors, 37.5% for patients with pT1b tumors who underwent simple cholecystectomy, and 100% for patients with pT1b tumors who underwent extended cholecystectomy.

Conclusions

Simple cholecystectomy is the appropriate treatment for patients with pT1a tumors, whereas patients with pT1b tumors require an extended cholecystectomy.

Trends in port-site metastasis after laparoscopic resection of incidental gallbladder cancer: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

The risk of port-site metastasis after laparoscopic removal of incidental gallbladder cancer was previously estimated to be 14-30%. The present study was designed to determine the incidence of port-site metastasis in incidental gallbladder cancer in the modern era (2000-2014) versus the historic era (1991-1999). We also investigated the site of port-site metastasis.

METHODS

Using PRISMA, a systematic review was conducted to identify papers that addressed the development of port-site metastasis after laparoscopic resection of incidental gallbladder cancer. Studies that described cancer-specific outcomes in ≥5 patients were included. A validated quality appraisal tool was used, and a weighted estimate of the incidence of port-site metastasis was calculated.

RESULTS

Based on data extracted from 27 papers that met inclusion criteria, the incidence of port-site metastasis in incidental gallbladder cancer has decreased from 18.6% prior to 2000 (95% confidence interval 15.3-21.9%, n = 7) to 10.3% since then (95% confidence interval 7.9-12.7%, n = 20) (P < .001). The extraction site is at significantly higher risk than nonextraction sites.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of port-site metastasis in incidental gallbladder cancer has decreased but remains high relative to other primary tumors. Any preoperative finding that raises the suspicion of gallbladder cancer should prompt further investigation and referral to a hepato-pancreato-biliary specialist.

Technical Aspects of Gallbladder Cancer Surgery

In this review, the authors present an updated description of gallbladder cancer in 2 sections based on presentation: disease that presents incidentally following laparoscopic cholecystectomy and malignancy that is suspected preoperatively. Elements pertaining to technical aspects of surgical resection provide the critical focus of this review and are discussed in the context of evidence-based literature on gallbladder cancer today.

Carcinoma of Gall bladder with distant metastasis to breast parenchyma. Report of a case and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Gall bladder carcinoma is one of the most common cancers in India. Gall bladder cancer with metastasis to the breast is very rare. Herein we intend to report a case of carcinoma gall bladder with breast metastasis and a short review of the literature.

METHODS

This report describes an interesting and unusual case of gall bladder carcinoma presenting with breast metastasis.

CASE REPORT

A 38-year lady presented with complaints of right abdominal pain. Bilateral breast examination showed 2×2cm palpable lump in the upper outer quadrant of the left breast. Contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen and pelvis showed circumferential thickening of gall bladder with the loss of fat plane with the adjacent liver parenchyma. Biopsy from the breast lump was reported as metastatic adenocarcinoma compatible with primary in the gall bladder. Whole body PET-CT showed gall bladder mass with abdominal and pelvic nodes with metastasis to liver, left breast, C7 vertebral body and left supra-clavicular node. She was diagnosed to have disseminated carcinoma gall bladder with liver, breast and supraclavicular nodal metastasis. She received palliative chemotherapy with gemcitabine and carboplatin and radiotherapy to C7 vertebra. After receiving 3 cycles of chemotherapy, chemotherapy was changed to the second line with single agent capecitabine. In spite of two lines of chemotherapy, she succumbed to disease progression and expired.

CONCLUSION

There are limited examples of gall bladder adenocarcinoma with simultaneous metastasis to breast in the English literature. Our case showed an unusual dissemination of gall bladder cancer.

Managing the incidentally detected gallbladder cancer: algorithms and controversies

INTRODUCTION

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the fifth most common neoplasm of the gastrointestinal tract and the most common cancer of the biliary tract. GBC is suspected preoperatively in only 30-40% of patients. The other 60-70% are discovered incidentally (IGBC) by the pathologist on a gallbladder specimen following cholecystectomy for benign diseases such as polyps, gallstones, and cholecystitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between 1995 and 2011, 30 cases of GBC, who underwent resection with curative intent in our institutions, were retrospectively reviewed. They were analyzed for demographic data, and type of operation, surgical morbidity and mortality, histopathological classification, and survival. Incidental GBC was compared with suspected or preoperatively diagnosed GBC. Overall survival, disease-free survival (DFS) and the difference in DFS between patients previously treated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy and those who had oncological resection as first intervention were analyzed. The authors also present a systematic review to evaluate the role of extended surgery in the treatment of the incidental GBC.

RESULTS

GBC was diagnosed in 30 patients, 16 women and 14 men. The M/F ratio was 1:1.14 and the mean age was 69.4 years (range 45-83 years). A preoperative diagnosis was possible only in 14 cases; fourteen of the incidental cases were diagnosed postoperatively after the pathological examination; two were suspected intraoperatively at the opening of the surgical specimen and then confirmed by frozen sections. The ratio between incidental and nonincidental cases was 1, 14/1, with twelve cases discovered after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Eighty-one per cent of the incidental cases were discovered at an early stage (≤II). The preoperative diagnosis of the 30 patients with GBC was: GBC with liver invasion diagnosed by preoperative CT (nine cases); gallbladder abscess perforated into hepatic parenchyma and involving the transversal mesocolon and hepatic hilum (one case); porcelain gallbladder (three cases); gallbladder adenoma (four cases); and chronic cholecystolithiasis (thirteen cases). Every case, except one, with a T1b or more advanced invasion underwent IVb + V wedge liver resection and pericholedochic/hepatoduodenal lymphoadenectomy. One patient refused further surgery. Cases with Tis and T1a involvement were treated with cholecystectomy alone. Nine of the sixteen patients with incidental diagnosis reached 5-year DFS (56.25%) and eight of them are recurrence free. Surprisingly, one patient reached 38 mo survival despite a port-site recurrence (the only one in our experience) 2 years after the original surgery requiring further resection. Cases with non incidental diagnosis were more locally advanced and only two patients experienced 5 years DFS (Tables 2 and 3).

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy does not affect survival if implemented properly. Reoperation should have two objectives: R0 resection and clearance of the lymph nodes.

Unsuspected gallbladder cancer during or after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the clinical features and outcomes of unsupected gallbladder carcinoma ( UGC) detected during or after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

METHODS

Medical records of 8005 patients, who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Peking Union Medical College Hospital between June 1993 and June 2011, were reviewed. Patients that pathologically diagnosed as UGC were retrospectively studied in terms of clinical features, preoperative and postoperative diagnosis, surviving period, and complications.

RESULTS

In the 8005 patients who received laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 36 (0.45%) were diagnosed as UGC during (25 patients) or after (11 patients) laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The gallbladder cancer was staged as T1 in 16 patients, T2 in 11 patients, and T3 in 9 patients. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates of all the patients were 88.9% (32/36), 63.9% (23/36), and 58.3% (21/36). The 5-year survival rates in T1 stage, T2 stage, and T3 stage patients were 100%, 75.0%, and 0.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The survival rate of UGC is associated with tumor stage, not with operation approaches. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is appropriate for T1 patients.

Is port-site resection necessary in the surgical management of gallbladder cancer?

INTRODUCTION

Gallbladder carcinoma is frequently discovered incidentally on pathologic examination of the specimen after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) performed for presumed "benign" disease. The objective of the present study was to assess the role of excision of port-sites from the initial LC for patients with incidental gallbladder carcinoma (IGBC) in a French registry.

METHODS

Data on patients with IGBC identified after LC between 1998 and 2008 were retrospectively collated in a French multicenter database. Among those patients undergoing re-operation with curative intent, patients with port-site excision (PSE) were compared with patients without PSE and analyzed for differences in recurrence patterns and survival.

RESULTS

Among 218 patients with IGBC after LC (68 men, 150 women, median age 64 years), 148 underwent re-resection with curative intent; 54 patients had PSE and 94 did not. Both groups were comparable with regard to demographic data (gender, age > 70, co-morbidities), surgical procedures (major resection, lymphadenectomy, main bile duct resection) and postoperative morbidity. In the PSE group, depth of tumor invasion was T1b in six, T2 in 24, T3 in 22, and T4 in two; this was not significantly different from patients without PSE (P = 0.69). Port-site metastasis was observed in only one (2%) patient with a T3 tumor who died with peritoneal metastases 15 months after resection. PSE did not improve the overall survival (77%, 58%, 21% at 1, 3, 5 years, respectively) compared to patients with no PSE (78%, 55%, 33% at 1, 3, 5 years, respectively, P = 0.37). Eight percent of patients developed incisional hernia at the port-site after excision.

CONCLUSION

In patients with IGBC, PSE was not associated with improved survival and should not be considered mandatory during definitive surgical treatment.

Incidence of port-site metastasis after undergoing robotic surgery for biliary malignancies

AIM: To investigate the incidence of clinically detected port-site metastasis (PSM) in patients who underwent robotic surgery for biliary malignancies.

METHODS: Using a prospective database, the patients undergoing fully robotic surgery for biliary malignancies between January 2009 and January 2011 were included. Records of patients with confirmed malignancy were reviewed for clinicopathological data and information about PSM.

RESULTS: Sixty-four patients with biliary tract cancers underwent robotic surgery, and sixty patients met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 67 year (range: 40-85 year). During a median 15-mo follow-up period, two female patients were detected solitary PSM after robotic surgery. The incidence of PSM was 3.3%. Patient 1 underwent robotic anatomatic left hemihepatectomy and extraction of biliary tumor thrombi for an Klatskin tumor. She had a subcutaneous mass located at the right lateral abdominal wall near a trocar scar. Patient 2 underwent robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy for distal biliary cancer. She had two metachronous subcutaneous mass situated at the right lateral abdominal wall under a same trocar scar at 7 and 26 mo. The pathology of the excised PSM masses confirmed metastatic biliary adenocarcinoma.

CONCLUSION: The incidence of PSMs after robotic surgery for biliary malignancies is relatively low, and biliary cancer can be an indication of robotic surgery.

Predictors of incidental gallbladder cancer in patients undergoing cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Discovery of incidental gallbladder cancer (IGC) has become more frequent due to adoption of laparoscopy. Gallbladder spillage during operation can disseminate cancer and worsen the prognosis.

METHODS

Patients who underwent laparoscopic or open cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder disease January 1996 to August 2011 at two tertiary care facilities were reviewed. Unmatched controls were randomly selected in 2:1 ratio. Preoperative variables were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven patients with IGC were identified and compared to 134 controls. Mean age was 68 for index cases and 49 for controls; 70% of cases and 75% of controls were female. Multivariate analysis showed that higher risk of IGC was significantly associated with age ≥ 65 (OR = 10.61, P < 0.0001), dilated bile ducts (OR = 4.76, P = 0.0028), and presence of gallbladder wall thickening (OR = 4.39, P = 0.0003). This model yielded a very good area under the curve of receiver operating characteristic (AUC = 0.83) for discriminating the patients with IGC from controls.

CONCLUSIONS

IGC is more likely to be found in patients when age is ≥65, with dilated bile ducts and gallbladder wall thickening. Preoperative suspicion of gallbladder cancer should prompt the surgeon to be more careful not to perforate the gallbladder during laparoscopic approach, and to have a lower threshold for conversion if necessary.

Is port site resection necessary in the surgical management of gallbladder cancer?

BACKGROUND

In selected patients with incidental gallbladder carcinoma (GBCA) diagnosed after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), definitive resection is warranted. Port site excision has been advocated but remains controversial.

METHODS

Patients with GBCA were identified through institutional/departmental databases. The subset of patients with incidental tumors identified after LC and submitted to definitive surgical therapy were selected. Those subjected to port site resection were compared with patients who underwent resection without port site removal and analyzed for differences in recurrence patterns and survival.

RESULTS

From 1992 to 2009, 113 patients with incidental GBCA presented for definitive resection after LC; 69 patients had port site resection and 44 did not. In the resected port site group, depth of tumor invasion was T1b = 6, T2 = 35, T3 = 28, and 13 (19%) had port site metastases. Port site disease was seen only in patients with T2 or T3 tumors and correlated with the development of peritoneal metastases (P = 0.01). Median survival of patients with T2/T3 tumors without port site metastases was 42 months compared to 17 months in patients with port site disease (P = 0.005). When only R0 resected patients were compared and adjusted for T and N stage, port site resection was not associated with overall survival (P = 0.23) or recurrence-free survival (P = 0.69).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with incidental GBCA, port site metastases were associated with peritoneal disease and decreased survival. Port site resection was not associated with improved survival or disease recurrence and should not be considered mandatory during definitive surgical treatment.

Incidental gallbladder cancer diagnosed following laparoscopic cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the treatment of choice for benign gallbladder disease. Gallbladder cancers have been found following LC. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the survival outcome and prognosis of incidental gallbladder cancer diagnosed after LC.

METHODS

From January 2002 to December 2007, 3,145 patients underwent LC at the Department of Surgery, Korea University Medical Center. Of these, 33 patients (1.05%) were diagnosed with gallbladder cancer after LC. Clinicopathological characteristics were retrospectively reviewed in this study.

RESULTS

Of the 33 patients studied, 9 were men and 24 were women. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy alone was performed in 26 patients, and additional radical surgery was performed in 7 others. Regarding tumor staging, there were 2 Tis, 6 T1a, 4 T1b, 17 T2, and 4 T3 tumors. Male patients had a significantly higher incidence of moderately and poorly differentiated tumors (P < 0.001), T2 and T3 tumors (P = 0.02), additional second operations (P = 0.046), and recurrence (P = 0.016). The cumulative 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 87.2, 73.1, and 47.0%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that significant prognostic factors for poorer survival were male gender (P = 0.026), age older than 65 years (P = 0.013), the presence of inflammation (P = 0.009), moderately or poorly differentiated tumor (P < 0.001), nonpolypoid gross type (P = 0.003), and pT stage (P < 0.001). Tumor differentiation was a significantly independent predictor of poor prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Male patients exhibited aggressive tumor characteristics. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is an adequate treatment for pT1 tumors. For pT2 and pT3 patients, additional radical surgery might be needed to achieve a tumor-free surgical margin, along with lymph node dissection.

Unsuspected gallbladder cancer diagnosed after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: focus on acute cholecystitis

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study was to investigate clinicopathological features of patients who were diagnosed with unsuspected gallbladder cancer (UGC) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and to clarify the relationship between acute cholecystitis (AC) and unsuspected gallbladder cancer.

METHODS

From June 1997 to March 2008, a total of 2,607 LCs were performed at Ajou University Medical Center. Twenty-six patients (1.0%) were diagnosed with gallbladder cancer after LC. We excluded patients with preoperatively or intraoperatively suspected gallbladder cancer.

RESULTS

Of 1,128 patients with AC, 19 (1.6%) were identified with gallbladder cancer after surgery. The preoperative diagnosis included a high rate of acute and severe acute cholecystitis (n = 19; 73.1%). The rate of conversion to open surgery was 15.4% (4/26), and bile spillage occurred in 14 of 26 patients (53.8%). Adenocarcinoma (92.3%) and pT2 (65.4%) were the most common pathological findings. In 19 UGC patients with AC, the most common pathological finding was also pT2 (n = 12; 63.1%). In addition, all 5 of the patients with positive resection margin belonged to the UGC with AC group. Two of 26 patients (7.7%) underwent additional surgery after LC, and 2 patients (7.7%) underwent excision of the port site/wound for recurrence. The overall median survival was 32 months (95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 21-43). There were no significant differences in age, the presence of acute cholecystitis, or bile spillage (P > 0.05) However, tumor differentiation was associated significantly with survival rate.

CONCLUSIONS

The preoperative diagnosis included a high rate of acute and severe acute cholecystitis. Survival was not associated with the presence of AC and bile spillage. Therefore, we suggest that AC may not influence the prognosis of unsuspected gallbladder cancer after LC. Moreover, good tumor differentiation can guarantee favorable survival, even in UGC with AC.

Use of retrieval bags in incidental gallbladder cancer cases

INTRODUCTION

Accidental intraoperative gallbladder perforation is a problem in laparoscopic surgery, especially in cases with incidental gallbladder carcinoma (IGBC). The question is whether intraoperative gallbladder perforation has a prognostic disadvantage or a retrieval bag provides protection against tumor dissemination.

METHODS

A standardized questionnaire was sent to all German surgical clinics based on the central register of "incidental gallbladder carcinoma" of the German Society of Surgery founded in 1997.

RESULTS

In 592 IGBC-registered cases, there were 330 laparoscopies, 154 open surgeries, and intraoperative conversion was performed in 106 cases. Of laparoscopic surgeries (n = 330), the recurrence rate was 30%. The recurrence rate for cases with (174/330) and without (156/330) the use of retrieval bag was 32.2% and 27%, respectively. In laparoscopies with intraoperative gallbladder perforation (73/330 cases), the recurrence rate was 38.4%. Of these cases the recurrence rate with (51/73) and without (22/73) the use of retrieval bags was 39.2% and 36.4%, respectively. In 257 cases without intraoperative perforation, tumor recurrence rate was 27.2%, and it was 29.3% or 25.4% with (123/257) and without (134/257) the use of retrieval bags.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the registry data, the intraoperative gallbladder perforation results in significant (P = 0.047) prognostic disadvantage and in these cases retrieval bags were used more often (P = 0.001). However, in IGBC cases if intraoperative gallbladder perforation has already happened, the use of retrieval bags had no protective effects.

Evolving treatment strategies for gallbladder cancer

Gallbladder cancer is an uncommon cancer that has traditionally been associated with a poor prognosis. In the era of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, incidental gallbladder cancer has dramatically increased and now constitutes the major way patients present with gallbladder cancer. While patients with incidental gallbladder cancer have a better survival than patients with nonincidental gallbladder cancer, incidental gallbladder cancer can be associated with a varied prognosis. Imaging with computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and [18]F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET), as well as diagnostic laparoscopy, all have varying roles in the workup of patients with incidental gallbladder cancer. For patients with T1b, T2, and T3 incidental gallbladder cancer re-resection is generally recommended. At re-exploration, many patients with incidental gallbladder cancer will have residual disease. Definitive oncologic management requires re-resection of the liver, portal lymphadenectomy, and attention to the common bile duct. The extent of the hepatic resection should be dictated by the ability to achieve a microscopically negative (R0) margin. Routine resection of the common bile duct is unnecessary but should be undertaken in the setting of a positive cystic duct margin. If an incidental gallbladder cancer is discovered at the time of surgery, whether the surgeon should directly proceed with a more definitive oncologic operation should depend on the surgeon's skill-set and experience. Gallbladder cancer has a propensity to recur. Although data for adjuvant therapy following resection are limited, some data do suggest a survival benefit for adjuvant chemoradiation therapy. Management of patients with gallbladder cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach with input from a surgeon skilled in hepatobiliary surgery.

Unsuspected gallbladder cancer management during or after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

AIM: To explore the effectiveness of surgeons in determining the unsuspected gallbladder carcinoma (UGC) at laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and the management of UGC.

METHODS: A total of 6429 patients with gallbladder disease were included in this study who underwent LC during June, 1989 and November, 2008. Patients with UGC were reviewed retrospectively to assess preoperative diagnosis, intraoperative findings and outcomes.

RESULTS: Of the total patients, 27 in 6429 (0.4%) were histopathologically diagnosed as UGC during (17) or after (10) LC. The tumor stages of the 27 diagnosed were pT₁ (9), pT₂ (9), and pT₃ (91), each with 9 cases. The survival rates of all the UCG patients in one-year, three-year and five-year were 74.1%, 63% and 59.3%, respectively. The five-year survival rates of pT₁ stage, pT₂ stage and pT₃ stage were 100%, 66.7% and 0.0%, respectively, not significantly affected by whether the patients had been diagnosed with UGC during or after LC (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The survival rate from UGC is associated with tumor stage and it is confirmed that a carefully performed LC is adequate treatment for pT₁ stage cancer. If a suspicious lesion is found, intraoperative frozen section is performed for pathological examination. However, radical operation is recommended for T₂ patients and effective measures should be taken to avoid tumor implant and metastasis.

Consideration of anatomical structures relevant to the surgical strategy for managing gallbladder carcinoma

AIMS

Gallbladder carcinoma usually presents late with advanced disease. It develops in an anatomically complex area. Consideration is given to resection of relevant local structures with respect to outcome.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature review was performed, searching Medline for articles published since 2000, using the MeSH heading of 'gallbladder cancer' and 'surgery'. Abstracts were reviewed and articles retrieved if the main focus of the article centred on the surgical management of gallbladder carcinoma.

OBSERVATIONS

Hepatic resection is advocated and tailored to pathological T stage. Lymph node dissection and bile duct resection, as well as en bloc resection of other viscera, remain areas of controversy.

CONCLUSIONS

Eastern and Western practice standards of care differ, but hepatic resection with some lymph node dissection is present in both approaches. Philosophy regarding aggression with respect to en bloc resection of adjacent organs and actual extent of lymphatic resection remains disparate.

Port site metastasis after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

We report a case of 62-year-old female, who developed port site metastasis one year after undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for calculous cholecystitis. This is only second such report in Indian literature.

Incidental carcinoma gall bladder during laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic gall stone disease

INTRODUCTION

Carcinoma gall bladder (CaGB) is a disease with high mortality and is usually diagnosed as an incidental case among patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for symptomatic gall stone disease.

METHODS

A total of 3205 LC done between January 2004 and August 2007 for symptomatic gall stone disease were retrospectively searched for incidental CaGB (detected on histopathology). None of these cases had preoperative suspicion of malignancy and their whole data was analyzed with special attention to preoperative and intraoperative findings which could raise suspicion of CaGB. In November 2007, patients were followed up telephonically about their present status of health.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients (14 female and 5 male) with incidental CaGB (incidence 0.59%) were detected. Mean age of the patients was 56 years. Only two of these patients had clinical jaundice and both had common bile duct (CBD) stones. The majority of the patients were in early pathological stages (pT) and none was in pT3 and pT4 stage. Seventeen patients could be followed up telephonically in November 2007 and of those 14 patients were alive at a mean follow-up duration of 21.2 months, with one of them having evidence of metastatic disease.

CONCLUSION

Gall bladder (GB) malignancy may be curable if diagnosed in early stages as an incidental finding and LC may not worsen the prognosis in such cases. In our series, incidental CaGB was detected in 0.59% patients undergoing LC. No association could be found between preoperative and intraoperative findings that could raise a suspicion of malignancy of gall bladder and so use of retrieval bag as a routine measure in cases with bile spillage may reduce the incidence of port-site metastasis.

Unsuspected gallbladder cancer diagnosed during or after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND

The long-term prognosis of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for patients with unsuspected gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) remains unclear. We investigated retrospectively the role of examination of frozen sections and the prognosis of patients with unsuspected GBC detected during or after LC.

METHODS

LC was performed on 1,793 consecutive patients. If a suspicious lesion was found, intraoperative frozen section examination was performed.

RESULTS

Of all these patients, 38 (2.1%) were histopathologically diagnosed as having a GBC during (28) or after LC (10). The tumor stages of the 28 diagnosed during LC were: pT1a (17), pT1b (2), pT2 (8), and pT3 (1). The sensitivity and specificity of intraoperative frozen section examination were 90 and 100%, respectively. On the other hand, those 10 cases diagnosed after LC had pT1a (1) and pT2 (9) tumors. Survival rates were not significantly affected by whether the patient was diagnosed with GBC during or after LC.

CONCLUSIONS

The survival with unsuspected GBC was related to stage and it was confirmed that a carefully performed LC is adequate treatment for Stage 1A and B cancer. The LC procedure does not adversely affect the prognosis of unsuspected GBC, regardless of whether it is detected during or after LC.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for early gallbladder carcinoma: long-term outcome in comparison with conventional open cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND

The role of laparoscopic surgery for malignant gallbladder tumors remains uncertain. This study compared the surgical results of laparoscopic versus conventional open cholecystectomy for patients with early-stage gallbladder carcinoma and examined the role of laparoscopic surgery for early gallbladder carcinomas.

METHODS

Data for the treatment of gallbladder carcinomas were gathered from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (Linkou, Taiwan). A retrospective analysis of 40 patients with either stage 0 or stage 1 gallbladder carcinoma was performed. The patients were categorized into two groups on the basis of cholecystectomy procedures. The long-term outcomes for the two groups were compared.

RESULTS

During the follow-up period, which ranged from 6.5 to 197.6 months, four patients in the conventional open cholecystectomy group encountered tumor recurrence, and one patient in the laparoscopic cholecystectomy group experienced distant tumor recurrence (p = 0.216). No local port-site tumor recurrence was identified in patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The overall 5-year survival rate in this series was 87.1%. A comparison of survival rates between the two groups demonstrated no significant difference (p = 0.340).

CONCLUSION

The laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedure did not adversely influence the prognosis of patients with early-stage gallbladder carcinomas. Furthermore, meticulous removal of gallbladders during laparoscopic surgery, in which early gallbladder carcinoma can be managed successfully using laparoscopic cholecystectomy, achieved a satisfactory surgical result and a low port-site tumor recurrence rate.

[Precancerous lesions of the gallbladder]

This Mini-review summarizes the epidemiology, predisposing and pre-cancerous conditions related to carcinoma of the gallbladder. In 75% of cases, gallbladder cancer is a cholangiocarcinoma, usually presenting in a late and advanced stage, and it carries one of the worst prognoses of all GI malignancies. Early stage disease is usually discovered incidentally by the pathologist in a gallbladder specimen removed for calculous cholecystitis. It occurs three times more frequently in women than in men and invasive forms usually occur after the age of 60. Incidence varies with geographic location. Besides genetic and geographic factors, the presence of one or more large gallstones is a major risk factor. Gallbladder polyps larger than 1.5 cm. (especially solitary sessile hypoechogenic polyps) are associated with a 50% risk of malignancy. Choledochal cysts and other variations of the biliopancreatic junction are also associated with high risk; cancer may occur at a much younger age in these patients and in the absence of gallstones. Porcelain gallbladder is a risk factor, particularly when there is calcification of the gallbladder mucosa. Chronic gallbladder infection has been implicated as a risk factor for malignant degeneration. Finally, cancer of both the gallbladder and the bile ducts is more frequent in patients suffering from primary biliary cirrhosis.

Surgical strategies in patients with gallbladder cancer: nihilism to optimism

INTRODUCTION

Gallbladder cancer is an aggressive disease with dismal results of surgical treatment and a poor prognosis. However, over the last few decades selected groups have reported improved results with aggressive surgery for gallbladder cancer.

METHODS

Review of recent world literature was done to provide an update on the current concepts of surgical treatment of this disease.

RESULTS

Long-term survival is possible in early stage gallbladder carcinoma. Tis and T1a gallbladder carcinoma can be treated with simple cholecystectomy only. However, in T1b and beyond cancers, aggressive surgery (extended cholecystectomy) is important in improving the long-term prognosis. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy should not be performed where there is a high index of suspicion of malignancy due to the frequent association with factors (such as gallbladder perforation and bile spill) which may lead to implantation of cancer cells and dissemination. Surgical resection for advanced carcinoma gallbladder is recommended only if a potentially curative R0 resection is possible. Aggressive surgery with vascular and multivisceral resection has been shown to be feasible albeit with an increase in mortality and morbidity. However, the true benefit of these radical resections is yet to be realized, as the actual number of long-term survivors of advanced gallbladder carcinoma is few.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgery for gallbladder carcinoma, like other malignancies, has the potential to be curative only in local or regional disease. Pattern of loco-regional spread of disease dictates the surgical procedure. Radical surgery improves survival in early gallbladder carcinoma. The long-term benefit of aggressive surgery for advanced disease is unclear and may be offset by the high mortality and morbidity.

Unsuspected gallbladder carcinoma after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Many cases have been reported of disastrous port-site recurrence after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) revealed unsuspected gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). Some investigators have reported that the prognosis of patients after LC showed unsuspected GBC is not worsened by laparoscopic procedures. We retrospectively reviewed our cases and the literature to reconfirm the intrinsic risks of LC for unsuspected GBC.

METHODS

Of 1663 patients who underwent LC from January 1991 to December 2003 in a single institution, 9 (0.54%) with unsuspected GBC were reviewed.

RESULTS

These 9 patients consisted of 5 men and 4 women, whose ages ranged from 58 to 87 years, with a median age of 73 years. Two patients with a pT1a tumor (limited to mucosa) and 2 patients with a pT1b tumor (muscle layer) underwent no further operation. The remaining 5 patients with a pT2 tumor (subserosa) underwent further operations with lymph node dissection. Five patients (2 patients with pT1b and 3 patients with pT2) developed recurrence and all of them died within a median period of 19 months (range 14-37 months) after LC. The causes of death were bone metastases in 1 patient (pT2), local recurrence in 2 patients (pT1b and pT2), and peritoneal metastasis in 2 patients (one elderly patient with pT1b who underwent laparoscopic common bile duct exploration, and one patient with pT2 in whom the cystic duct was damaged during surgery). Four patients (2 with pT1 and 2 with pT2) have been doing well with a median follow-up of 39.5 months (range 12-99 months) after LC.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgeons should always prevent bile spillage during LC and when removing the resected gallbladder. When laparoscopic common bile duct exploration is planned, especially for elderly women, surgeons should also bear in mind the increasing possibility of unsuspected GBC.

Incidental gall bladder carcinoma: does the surgical approach influence the outcome?

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcome in patients with unsuspected gall bladder carcinoma diagnosed after cholecystectomy, comparing the laparoscopic approach with open surgery.

METHODS

A retrospective study was done of 16 patients who were diagnosed with unsuspected gall bladder carcinoma out of the 2850 who had undergone cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholelithiasis at our institution between 1990 and 2004. Eight cases (seven women and one man, mean age 63 (range 49-75 years) ) were diagnosed after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (group A) and eight cases (six women and two men, mean age 63 (range 50-79 years) ) after open cholecystectomy (group B). We evaluated the outcome in the two groups correlating the cumulative survival rates with tumour stage and surgical technique.

RESULTS

In group A, three patients had port-site recurrence (1 pT1a and 2 pT1b tumours) after 6, 7 and 9 months, one had intraperitoneal dissemination (pT2) after 3 months, and four had no recurrence (1 pTis, 2 pT1a and 1 pT1b). In group B, five patients had recurrences (4 pT1b and 1 pT2) after an average of 8 months (range 5-11) and three had no recurrence (1 pTis and 2 pT1a). Survival rate was statistically correlated with tumour stage but not with the surgical approach used to perform cholecystectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

The surgical approach used for cholecystectomy would seem not to influence the outcome in patients with unsuspected gall bladder carcinoma. The tumour stage is the most important prognostic factor.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for treatment of unexpected early-stage gallbladder cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) may result in the incidental diagnosis of early stage (T1 and T2) gallbladder cancer. LC is useful for T1 patients, however, its role in T2 patients remains controversial. We sought to determine the effect of initial LC on patient outcome in early-stage gallbladder cancer.

METHODS

Twenty-nine patients with T1 or T2 disease were reviewed retrospectively to assess preoperative diagnosis, intraoperative findings, and outcomes.

RESULTS

Diagnoses included gallbladder stones (5), gallstones with polyps (5), and gallbladder polyps (19). Malignancy was suspected in 15 patients (14 polyp lesions and 1 gallbladder stone with wall thickening). After frozen sections, two T2 patients were immediately treated with radical operation owing to positive margins. Of 14 patients diagnosed by pathology, 4 T2 patients with positive margins underwent a second radical operation. Five-year survival rate was 100% and 49.6 % (T1 and T2 patients). No mortality or recurrence was detected in T1 patients (mean follow-up, 45.8 months; range, 6-98 months). Three T2 patients died, and one T2 patient relapsed after LC. No port site metastasis was detected.

CONCLUSIONS

LC for T1a and T1b gallbladder cancer needs no additional treatment, however, radical operation for T2 patients is recommended, regardless of the margin condition.

Port-Site Metastasis: The Influence of Biology

OBJECTIVE

Several surgical and technical mechanisms have been proposed for the development of port-site metastasis, but the influence of tumor and host biologic factors has not been emphasized. We present a case of a pelvic chordoma that metastasized to a prior laparoscopic radical nephrectomy port-site.

METHODS

A 62-year-old woman underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) for a pT1b grade 3 renal cell carcinoma, followed 6 weeks later by resection of a sacral chordoma. The incisions and areas of dissection for the two procedures were discontinuous.

RESULTS

Eight months following the LRN she developed a nodule in one of the laparoscopic port-sites. The port-site metastasis was treated with wide surgical resection, which was confirmed as metastatic chordoma on histologic examination.

CONCLUSION

Based on the chronological sequence and physical distance between surgical sites, only biological factors could have contributed to this port-site metastasis. This unusual case highlights the important role that tumor and host biologic mechanisms play in the development of port-site metastasis.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: its effect on the prognosis of patients with gallbladder cancer

Numerous reports suggest more recurrences and a worse prognosis after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) than after open cholecystectomy (OC). The objective of this study was to compare the survival rate of patients undergoing a laparoscopic procedure versus those undergoing an open operation. A series of 24 patients with gallbladder cancer detected after LC were compared with 40 consecutive patients with gallbladder cancer detected after OC. Patients were matched by wall invasion, age, and whether they underwent a reoperation or only cholecystectomy. The series included 2 patients with in situ tumors, 2 with mucosal tumors, 1 with muscular invasion, 13 with subserosal invasion, and 6 with serosal invasion. Recurrences were observed in 4 of the 10 patients with subserosal compromise who underwent reoperation. In contrast, in the OC group of 26 patients with subserosal invasion, 20 of whom were reoperated, only 2 had a recurrence. Of the six patients with serosal infiltration, three in the LC underwent reoperation, all of whom had recurrences that precluded resection. Of the 12 patients in the OC group who presented with serosal invasion, 6 were reoperated and 4 had a recurrence. Overall survival curves did not show differences when patients were compared according to the type of procedure performed. Similarly, the analysis of patients according to the level of wall invasion indicated that there was no significant difference in survival. Although multiple reports have shown a worse prognosis for patients with gallbladder cancer undergoing LC, this study did not show a significant survival difference between the two methods. Although there is a higher but insignificant recurrence rate among the patients who underwent LC, this is not translated into survival.

Surgical indications and extent of resection in gallbladder cancer

Gallbladder cancer often is diagnosed at an advanced stage when the prognosis is dismal. Early tumors (T1) that are recognized incidentally are curable with simple cholecystectomy alone. All other tumors should be resected with an extended cholecystectomy (T2) or with an extensive liver resection that obtains the negative margins. Patients with tumors greater than T1 should undergo lymphadenectomy that includes the porta hepatis and superior pancreatic nodes. Long-term survival with this approach is possible, even with T3 and T4 tumors. The role of extended lymphadenectomy, including the retropancreatic and aortocaval basins, is unclear and should be attempted only in selected cases.

Port site metastasis after diagnostic laparoscopy for upper gastrointestinal tract malignancies: an uncommon entity

BACKGROUND

The role of laparoscopy for diagnosing, staging, and treating intra-abdominal malignancies is increasing. This study was designed to examine the incidence of port site metastasis and open incision site metastasis for upper gastrointestinal tract (GI) malignancies.

METHODS

From a prospective database maintained by the Department of Surgery, patients undergoing laparoscopy for upper GI malignancies were identified. Clinical outcomes and recurrences were noted.

RESULTS

Between January 1993 and January 2001, 1965 laparoscopic procedures were identified. After those patients lost to follow-up were excluded, 1650 procedures were performed in 1548 patients. Port site implantation for all laparoscopies occurred in 13 (.79%) of 1650, with a median time to recurrence of 8.2 months. After laparotomy, open incision site recurrence occurred in 9 (.86%) of 1040 (not significant). Among the patients resected, there were 5 (.60%) of 830 port site recurrences and 7 (.84%) of 830 open incision site recurrences. At the time of diagnosis of recurrence, all of the patients with port site and five of seven with open site implantation had distant or local disease, or both, as well.

CONCLUSIONS

Port site implantation after diagnostic laparoscopy for upper GI malignancy is uncommon, does not seem to be different from open incision site recurrence, and occurs in the setting of advanced disease. Therefore, the risk of port site recurrence cannot be used as an argument against laparoscopy in upper GI malignancy.

Incidental carcinoma of the gallbladder

Incidental gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is a difficult management issue as there are no established guidelines. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with increased dissemination of the tumour cells (both in the peritoneal cavity and port sites). Depth of tumour invasion (T stage) and positive surgical margins are the most important prognostic factors, although tumour differentiation, lymphatic, perineural and vascular invasion may also affect the outcome. Simple cholecystectomy is adequate for mucosal (T1a) lesions only. For T1b tumours port site/wound excision with second radical operation (probably extended cholecystectomy -- wedge liver excision with regional lymphadenectomy) should be advised. T2 tumours should be treated with second radical operation (extended cholecystectomy or excision of medial liver segments 4b and 5 or 4, 5 and 8 with regional lymphadenectomy with or without excision of the extra-hepatic bile duct). Few T3 tumours can be cured and in some survival time may be prolonged by a second radical operation. More extensive liver resection (segments 4b and 5 or segments 4, 5 and 8) with regional lymphadenectomy with excision of the extra-hepatic bile duct should be advised. A second radical operation may palliate some T4 tumours. In the absence of extensive nodal disease, this operation may prolong the survival time. Excision of the extra-hepatic bile duct should be undertaken whenever the tumour involves the cystic duct margin or the extra-hepatic biliary tree. Epidemiology, risk factors, aetiopathogenesis and the modes of spread of GBC are discussed in relation to appropriateness of the second radical operation. Indications, types and role of the second radical operation are discussed.

Small cell carcinoma of the gallbladder: a clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular pathology study of 12 cases

Small cell carcinomas of the gallbladder are unusual neoplasms that have been characterized only recently. The authors describe the clinical, histopathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular features of 12 small cell carcinomas of the gallbladder. The mean age at diagnosis was 69 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 5:7. The neoplasms had an average size of 3 cm, and 90% showed invasion of the muscularis propria and perimuscular connective tissue. Seventy-five percent of the carcinomas had metastasized or extended locally beyond the gallbladder at surgery. Survival was uniformly poor, with a mean survival of 10.7 months (range, 3-25 months). Half the small cell carcinomas were combined with other neoplasms. Four had foci of adenocarcinoma, one contained areas of squamous differentiation, and another had a component of carcinosarcoma. Immunohistochemical analysis showed focal reactivity for chromogranin (six of six cases), neuron-specific enolase (six of six cases), and Leu-7 (three of three cases). The molecular changes in small cell carcinomas were similar to those of adenocarcinomas occurring at this site, with a high frequency of p53 (75%) and p16INK4a (33%) abnormalities, and a low frequency of deleted in pancreatic carcinoma-4 inactivation (0%) and K-ras codon 12 mutations (17%). In contrast to pulmonary small cell carcinomas, p16INK4a function appears to be abrogated more frequently in these carcinomas.

Trimodality Therapy for Advanced Gallbladder Cancer

We conducted a retrospective review of all patients who underwent surgical extirpation for stage IN, stage IV, or recurrent carcinoma of the gallbladder. Between 1991 and 1999 ten patients underwent surgical resection for advanced gallbladder cancer. All patients received adjuvant therapy either pre- or postoperatively. Radiotherapy was used in all patients and chemotherapy in 90 per cent of patients. Two patients subsequently underwent resection for locally recurrent disease. An additional patient with stage II disease initially was also treated surgically for a local recurrence. Surgical management involved cholecystectomy and resection of various amounts of liver surrounding the gallbladder bed and regional lymphadenectomy. Contiguously involved structures were resected en bloc. Resection of recurrent disease included excision of all gross tumor. The median overall survival excluding the one 30-day mortality was 53.6 months (range 8–73 months). Four patients have survived 4 or more years, and currently four patients are alive and disease free at 73, 49, 33, and 8 months. Median disease-free interval after each resection of recurrent disease was 13.8 months (range 4–28 months). We conclude that trimodality therapy in selected patients with stage III, IV, or recurrent carcinoma of the gallbladder is possible and may result in prolonged survival.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy does not demonstrably decrease survival of patients with serendipitously treated gallbladder cancer

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility that laparoscopic cholecystectomy has worsened the prognosis of patients with resected gallbladder cancer; particularly for patients whose cancer was accidentally resected.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a retrospective review of Connecticut Tumor Registry data and data extracted from individual patient records at 15 of 30 hospitals in Connecticut reporting data to the Registry, at two separate time points, 1985-1988 (immediate prelaparoscopic era) and 1992-95 (laparoscopic cholecystectomy well established). There were 194 and 208 patients in each 3-year period, respectively. Additional information was extracted from hospital records in 82 and 91 patients, respectively. Twenty-five percent of patients in both data sets presented with "local" or Tis, T1, T2 disease.

RESULTS

Three-year survival for localized disease was 29% in the prelaparoscopic period and 34% once laparoscopic cholecystectomy was established. But analysis of individual patient records indicated that 36% of patients from the laparoscopic period did not actually undergo a laparoscopic procedure. Fifty-nine patients had their gallbladder cancer discovered in the specimen postoperatively (serendipitously treated). A higher proportion of cancers were discovered postoperatively in the laparoscopic era (44% versus 24%). Three-year survival for these patients was 25%. If the data from the two eras are grouped according to whether or not the cancer-bearing gallbladder was manipulated laparoscopically, 24 of 59 patients (41%) turned out to be at risk for the possibility of increased laparoscopic dissemination of tumor. Survival of these patients (11-month median survival) was not statistically different from survival of patients whose serendipitously discovered gallbladder cancer was never manipulated laparoscopically (16-month median survival); p = 0.54 by log rank test.

CONCLUSIONS

The widespread adoption of laparoscopic cholecystectomy did not worsen the survival of patients with gallbladder cancer, and patients with serendipitously treated gallbladder cancers did not have a worse survival after laparoscopic manipulation than after a standard open cholecystectomy. The laparoscopic aspects of operative manipulation of a gallbladder with cancer in it do not appear to be a proximate cause of the poor prognosis in this disease.

Gallbladder cancer

Gallbladder cancer often presents with advanced disease. When found early, surgery can be curative for this particular malignancy. Prognostic factors that influence the success of aggressive surgical therapy include depth of invasion, extent of hepatic infiltration, histologic grade, presence of venous, lymphatic or perineural invasion, and lymph node metastasis. Tumors with tumor limited to the subserosal layer, hepatic infiltration that is only 5 mm or less, papillary or well differentiated adenocarcinomas, tumors with no venous, lymphatic or perineural invasion and lymph node metastasis limited to the hepatoduodenal ligament have the best prognosis with surgery (15, 16, 36). Extended cholecystectomy with lymph node dissection has improved the results of treating T2 gallbladder cancers. More extensive resections should keep the above prognostic factors in mind. When surgical resection is not possible, endoscopic stenting of the biliary tree for palliation of obstructive jaundice is effective. Earlier detection or more effective chemotherapy will be needed to significantly improve the prognosis of this disease.

Long-term prognosis of gallbladder cancer diagnosed after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND

Several clinical and laboratory studies concerning port-site recurrence have raised the concern that laparoscopic procedures might worsen the prognosis of malignant disease. However, the long-term prognosis of patients with malignancy who undergo laparoscopic surgery is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the long-term prognosis of patients with unexpected gallbladder cancer diagnosed after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

METHODS

A clinicopathologic study was performed on 41 patients with postoperatively diagnosed gallbladder cancer from among 5,027 patients undergoing LC at 24 institutions. The cumulative survival rate was compared with that reported for gallbladder cancer diagnosed after open cholecystectomy (OC).

RESULTS

Of 26 patients with early gallbladder cancer (pTis or pT1), 23 were simply followed up, and 9 of 15 patients with advanced cancer (pT2 or pT3) had additional resection after the diagnosis of gallbladder cancer. Port-site recurrence occurred in four patients, and two of them died of the cancer. However, at this writing, the other two are still alive after abdominal wall resection or radiation therapy, having survived for 31 and 71 months, respectively. The 5-year survival rate was 92% for early cancer and 59% for advanced cancer. These results were comparable with 5-year survival rates for gallbladder cancer diagnosed after OC.

CONCLUSIONS

Although port-site recurrence occurred in four patients with advanced gallbladder cancer, the long-term prognosis of patients with undiagnosed gallbladder cancer who underwent LC was not worsened by the laparoscopic procedure. We conclude that surgeons can perform LC with reasonable confidence, even if the lesion is possibly malignant.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the treatment of patients with gall bladder cancer

BACKGROUND

Surgical procedures based on the depth of the primary tumor invasion (pT category) have been proposed in the treatment of gallbladder cancer (GBC). Trocar site metastases have been reported in patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for preoperatively undiagnosed GBC.

STUDY DESIGN

The aim of this study was to clarify the role of LC as a surgical strategy for GBC. From 1986 to 1998, 56 patients with GBC underwent surgical resection. Survival rates were compared retrospectively according to pT category and use of LC.

RESULTS

Five-year survival was 91% for pT1 (n = 13), 64% for pT2 (n = 25), 34% for pT3 (n = 14), and 0% for pT4 tumors (n = 4; p<0.0001). LC was performed on 11 patients (4 with pT1, 5 with pT2, and 2 with pT3 tumors). Of the seven patients with pT2 or pT3 tumors, three underwent a second radical operation, three had an open radical operation to which the procedure was converted from LC, and one underwent no additional procedures. For pT1 tumors, one patient died of trocar site metastasis from bile spillage after LC. For pT2 or pT3 tumors, 5-year survival was 63% for radical surgery (n = 35) and 0% for cholecystectomy alone (n = 4; p<0.05). For pT2 or pT3 tumors treated by radical surgery, 5-year survival was 75% for laparoscopic approach (n = 6) and 60% for open surgery (n = 29; not significant).

CONCLUSIONS

LC may help to establish the diagnosis and to determine the surgical strategy for undiagnosed GBC. It is important to prevent spillage or implantation of malignant cells during LC. For pT2 or pT3 tumors diagnosed laparoscopically, a second or converted open radical surgery is necessary.