[Clinical characteristics of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and prognostic factors in patients who received non-surgical treatment].
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to analyze the prognostic factors in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) who did not receive surgery.


METHODS
Between August 1997 and November 2007, the medical records of 175 patients (mean age; 66 years, male/female 126/49), who were diagnosed as ICC, were reviewed retrospectively.


RESULTS
Clonorchiasis and hepatolithiasis was found in 14.9%, and 6.3% of all patients, and no risk factors were identified in 77.8% of them. Surgical resection was performed in 29.1% (51 patients), chemotherapy +/- radiotherapy in 12.6% (22 patients), and palliative therapy in 58.3% (102 patients). The proportion of patients with stage I was 23.4% (41 patients). The prognostic factors in patients who did not receive surgery were alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin levels by univariate and multivariate analysis. The median survival of patients with normal ALP and bilirubin levels was six months, whereas only one month in patients with elevated ALP and bilirubin levels (p<0.001). Tumor characteristics of patients with elevated bilirubin and ALP levels were infiltrative tumor, bile duct involvement, and very huge tumor.


CONCLUSIONS
The prognostic factors of ICC in patients who did not receive surgery were ALP and bilirubin levels, but not lymph node metastasis.
Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Jong Ryul
JR
Eun
Byung Ik
BI
Jang
Jun Young
JY
Lee
Kyung Ok
KO
Kim
Si Hyung
SH
Lee
Tae Nyeun
TN
Kim
Heon Ju
HJ
Lee
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000032:analysis; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D001663:Bilirubin