Impact of classification of hilar cholangiocarcinomas (Klatskin tumors) on the incidence of intra- and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in the United States.
Cholangiocarcinomas are topographically categorized as intrahepatic or extrahepatic by the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O). Although hilar cholangiocarcinomas (Klatskin tumors) are extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas, the second edition of the ICD-O (ICD-O-2) assigned them a histology code 8162/3, Klatskin, which was cross-referenced to intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Recent studies in the United States that included this code (8162/3, Klatskin) with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma reported an increasing incidence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and a decreasing incidence of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. To investigate the impact of this misclassification on site-specific cholangiocarcinoma incidence rates, we calculated annual percent changes (APCs) with data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program using a Poisson regression model that was age-adjusted to the year 2000 U.S. population. All statistical tests were two-sided. During 1992-2000, when SEER used ICD-O-2, 1710 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas, 1371 extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas, and 269 hilar cholangiocarcinomas identified by code 8162/3, Klatskin were diagnosed. Ninety-one percent (246 of 269) of the hilar cholangiocarcinomas were incorrectly coded as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas, resulting in an overestimation of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma incidence by 13% and underestimation of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas incidence by 15%. However, even after the exclusion of tumors that were coded to the histology code 8162/3, Klatskin, age-adjusted annual intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma incidence increased during this period (APC = 4%, 95% confidence interval = 2% to 6%, P<.001).
Welzel
Tania M
TM
Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, EPS 7084, MSC 7234 6120 Executive Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. welzelt@mail.nih.gov
McGlynn
Katherine A
KA
Hsing
Ann W
AW
O'Brien
Thomas R
TR
Pfeiffer
Ruth M
RM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017734:Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006500:Hepatic Duct, Common; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D018285:Klatskin Tumor / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018426:SEER Program; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology