Laparoscopic hepatectomy and dissection of lymph nodes for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Case report

Surg Endosc. 2002 Dec;16(12):1806. doi: 10.1007/s00464-002-4511-z. Epub 2002 Sep 23.

Abstract

Usually intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma has a poor prognosis, especially when it occurs with lymph node metastasis. As a treatment for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, dissection of lymph nodes alone does not seem to offer any significant advantages. The laparoscopic hepatectomy procedure, however, is a minimally invasive liver surgery. We recently had the case of a patient who underwent successful laparoscopic hepatectomy and dissection of lymph nodes for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in the left lateral segment of the liver. The patient had intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with distant lymph node metastasis around the common hepatic artery determined to stage IVb according to TNM classification. The operation time was 335 min, and the total blood loss was only 225 ml. A left lateral hepatectomy and complete lymph node dissection around the hepatoduodenal ligament and celiac trunk was performed. In this case, a laparoscopic procedure enabled the patient to have an early discharge, and there was no recurrence for 14 months. Another advantage for this patient was that the hospital stay lasted only 10 days. As compared with conventional surgery, laparoscopic surgery reduces blood loss and shortens the hospital stay. In conclusion, laparoscopic surgery for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is a good treatment for advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma because it allows a positive early postoperative outcome and possibly a better result over the long term.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Bile Duct Neoplasms / pathology
  • Bile Duct Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / pathology
  • Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / surgery*
  • Blood Loss, Surgical
  • Cholangiocarcinoma / pathology
  • Cholangiocarcinoma / surgery*
  • Dissection / methods
  • Hepatectomy / adverse effects
  • Hepatectomy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Laparoscopy / adverse effects
  • Laparoscopy / methods*
  • Length of Stay
  • Lymph Node Excision / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome