Background: The diagnostic value of percutaneous transhepatic portography (PTP) for assessing cancer invasion of the portal bifurcation in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma has not been studied previously.
Methods: From April 1977 to March 1998 combined hepatobiliary and portal vein resection was performed in 45 patients. In 25 patients, PTP was carried out before operation and the resected portal bifurcation was examined histologically. Correlation between portographic and microscopic findings at the portal bifurcation was studied retrospectively.
Results: Portographic and microscopic findings were classified into three groups (type A, B or C, and grade 0, I or II respectively) according to the findings at the portal bifurcation. There was a significant correlation between the portographic type and degree of cancer invasion (P = 0.0001). In seven of the eight patients with type A portograms, there was no microscopic cancer invasion of the portal bifurcation. In 15 of the 17 patients with type B or C portograms, cancer invasion was found microscopically. All patients with microscopic grade II invasion had type C portograms.
Conclusion: PTP can be used to evaluate cancer invasion of the portal bifurcation with sufficient reliability for preoperative staging of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.