Recurrent intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: single-center experience using repeated hepatectomy and radiofrequency ablation

• Published in: Journal of hepato-biliary-pancreatic sciences Vol. 17; no. 4; pp. 509 - 515
• Main Authors: Kamphues, Carsten, Seehofer, D., Eisele, R. M., Denecke, T., Pratschke, J., Neumann, U. P., Neuhaus, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Springer Japan 01.07.2010; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Abdominal Surgery; Adult; Aged; Bile Duct Neoplasms - diagnosis; Bile Duct Neoplasms - mortality; Bile Duct Neoplasms - surgery; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; Biopsy; Catheter Ablation - methods; Cholangiocarcinoma - diagnosis; Cholangiocarcinoma - mortality; Cholangiocarcinoma - surgery; Clinical outcomes; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gastroenterology; Germany - epidemiology; Hepatectomy - methods; Hepatology; Humans; Incidence; intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - epidemiology; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - surgery; Original Article; radiofrequency ablation; recurrence; Reoperation; repeated liver resection; Retrospective Studies; Surgical Oncology; Survival Rate - trends; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome; Germany; Radiofrequency ablation; Recurrence; Repeated liver resection; Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
• ISSN: 1868-6974; 1868-6982
• DOI: 10.1007/s00534-009-0256-6

Background Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHC) is a rare liver malignancy with a rising incidence worldwide. Since no standard treatment has been established so far, the aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of repeated liver resection and/or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in selected cases with recurrent IHC. Patients and methods The outcome of 13 patients who had been treated at least once for recurrent IHC by repeated liver resection and/or RFA was retrospectively analyzed. A total of 12 repeated liver resections and 8 radiofrequency ablations were performed in these patients between 2002 and 2008. Results After a median follow-up period of 28 months after primary liver resection (12–69 months), seven patients (54%) are still alive and three of these patients (23% of the entire cohort) are regarded as disease-free. The median survival for all patients was 51 months (12–69 months). One- and three-year survival after primary surgery was 92 and 52%, respectively, with an overall complication rate of 7.6%. Conclusion According to the present data, repeated liver resection and radiofrequency ablation are feasible in select patients with recurrent IHC. Both procedures can be regarded as safe and might lead to a prolongation of patient survival.