Characteristics of bile duct carcinoma with superficial extension in the epithelium.
BACKGROUND
Longitudinal tumor extension from the main tumor involves intramural or superficial spread along the bile duct, which influences surgical curability. Identifying the range of superficial extension is difficult by preoperative imaging. To clarify specific characteristics of bile duct carcinoma (BDC) with superficial extension of epithelium in the bile duct, we examined clinicopathologic features and patient outcomes in BDC patients with or without superficial extension who underwent surgical resection.


METHODS
Between 1994 and 2008, we retrospectively examined clinicopathologic findings and outcomes for 42 BDC patients who underwent surgical resection and divided them into two groups: (1) superficial extension (SE) group (n = 10); and (2) non-SE group (n = 32).


RESULTS
In terms of macroscopic growth of the main tumor, the papillary type was more common in the SE group than in the non-SE group, whereas the nodular type was dominant in the non-SE group. The prevalence of cancer-positive findings at the cut end of the bile duct was higher in the SE group. Portal vein invasion was not observed in the SE group, and the prevalence of regional lymph node metastasis was significantly greater in the non-SE group than in the SE group. No patients died of cancer in the SE group, who tended to show better survival than the non-SE group.


CONCLUSIONS
The present results suggest that a good prognosis may be achieved in BDC patients with SE when complete resection is accomplished.
Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8501, Japan. a-nanasm@net.nagasaki-u.ac.jp
Atsushi
A
Nanashima
Yorihisa
Y
Sumida
Syuuichi
S
Tobinaga
Takafumi
T
Abo
Hiroaki
H
Takeshita
Terumitsu
T
Sawai
Shigekazu
S
Hidaka
Hidetoshi
H
Fukuoka
Takeshi
T
Nagayasu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods