OBJECTIVETo summarize the experience in ameliorating curative resection rate and major postoperative complication rate for treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODSRespective analysis was made on the clinical data of 54 consecutive cases who underwent resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma from Jan. 1998 to Dec. 2004.

RESULTSIn this group 54 cases received tumor resection with a resection rate of 63.5%. Combined partial hepatectomy was performed in 14 patients, while combined pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple) in 3 patients, and combined resection of portal vein in 2 patients and combined resection of hepatic artery in 2 patients. Thirty patients had curative resection. The curative resection rate was greatly increased from 27.0% (before 2001) to 41.7% (after 2001) in this group with well controlled perioperative mortality and postoperative complications rate (e.g. hepatic failure and major infection). The gross 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates for the whole group were 67.4%, 28.1% and 13.5% respectively. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rates for curative resection were 87%, 36% and 24% respectively. The 1-, 2-year survival rates for palliative resection were 42% and 18%.

CONCLUSIONSEnhanced surgical technique resulted in better clinical outcomes.