Evaluation of portal vein invasion of distal cholangiocarcinoma as borderline resectability

Background The concept of borderline resectability has not yet been introduced for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC). In this study, the surgical results of ECC patients were analyzed to clarify the implications of surgery for distal ECC with portal vein (PV) invasion as a preliminary step for the introduction of the concept of borderline resectability. Methods The clinicopathological data of 129 patients who had undergone pancreatoduodenectomy of distal ECC were reviewed retrospectively. Combined PV resection was performed in 10 patients. The clinicopathological variables were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results Pathological PV invasion was observed in eight of the 129 patients. The survival rates of patients with PV invasion were significantly poorer than those of patients without PV invasion: 3 and 5 years after surgery, 17% and 0% versus 50% and 39% (P < 0.001), respectively. Presence of pancreatic or PV invasion, tumor progression, nodal status, and residual tumor were significant prognostic factors on univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, PV invasion was the only significant independent predictive factor of a poor prognosis. Conclusions PV invasion of distal ECC should be regarded as indicating borderline resectability.