Benefit of lymph node dissection for perihilar and distal cholangiocarcinoma according to lymph node stations.

BACKGROUND: The benefits of lymph node (LN) dissection at each station have not previously been fully investigated in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHCC) and distal cholangiocarcinoma (DCC).

METHODS: The efficacy index (EI) was calculated in patients who underwent surgery for PHCC (n = 134) and DCC (n = 135) by multiplying the frequency of metastasis to the LN station and the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate of patients with metastasis to that station.

RESULTS: In PHCC, the frequency of metastasis, 5-year OS rates, and the EI in para-aortic LNs (4.7%, 0%, and 0, respectively) and posterior pancreaticoduodenal LNs (8.1%, 0%, and 0, respectively) were lower than those in hepatoduodenal ligament LNs (30.1%, 24.1%, and 7.25, respectively) and LNs along the common hepatic artery (CHA) (16.2%, 15.0%, and 2.43, respectively). In DCC, these values were lower in LNs along the CHA (6.4%, 0%, and 0, respectively) than in the posterior pancreaticoduodenal LNs (31.2%, 34.5%, and 10.8, respectively), the hepatoduodenal ligament LNs (14.8%, 15.2%, and 2.25, respectively), and para-aortic (4.0%, 25.0%, and 0.99, respectively) LNs.

CONCLUSIONS: According to the EI, this study raises concerns about the effectiveness of dissection in the posterior pancreaticoduodenal LNs in PHCC and LNs along the CHA in DCC.