title: The potential role of intraoperative ultrasonography in the surgical treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
abstract: The role of intraoperative ultrasonography (IOU) in the surgical treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma was explored in twenty-two patients, 17 males and 5 females. The mean age was 55 years (range 36-78 years). Preoperative imaging studies included abdominal ultra-sonography and/or CT scan, and visceral angiography. Operations performed were segment III bypass in 18 patients, local resection of tumour in 2 and resection of tumour en bloc with left hepatectomy in 2. Interpretation of IOU in terms of vascular involvement by the tumour (as compared to angiography or operative findings) was correct in 21 patients; no vascular invasion in 20 and portal vein invasion in the remainder. One false negative result occurred in a patient whose IOU failed to show right hepatic artery encasement by the tumour. When compared to postoperative cholangiography or surgical specimen, IOU correctly demonstrated location and extent of the tumours in all but one patient who had incomplete tumour resection. IOU was also helpful in locating segment III duct for biliary bypass. The mean time used for IOU was 15.1 min (range 10-20 min.), and there was no procedure-related complication. When supplemented with operative exploration, IOU seems to be very useful in the assessment of the resectability of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Watanapa
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Hargrove
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sirivatanauksorn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional