Combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma (HCC-CC) is a unique primary epithelial tumor of the liver classified by the WorldHealth Organization (WHO) as a tumor containing elements of both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CC).The clinical diagnosis is established by histopathology and a firm pathological diagnosis from definitive evidence of HCC and CC differentiation.HCC-CC's clinical features tend to resemble hepatocellular carcinoma in regards to venous infiltration and like cholangiocarcinoma with respect to lymph node metastasis.To date,the biological behavior of HCC-CC remains ill-defined; however its prognosis seems to be worse than just HCC.Conversely,it is unclear whether the prognosis of HCC-CC is better than that of only ICC.This paper reviews recent studies on the clinicopathological behavior of HCC-CC.

It is well known that Tokyo University Hospital (TUH) is one of the most famous medical centers around the world in Japan. Among several departments in TUH, the Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Artificial Organ and Transplantation Division are representative predominant divisions, which have high-quality diagnostic and treatment service systems being at the leading position in the world. The authors visit the Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Artificial Organ and Transplantation Division in 2022. When studying and working in TUH, the authors make a multi-angle comparisons of the development status and technical levels of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery among TUH, western countries and China. It aims to share and exchange with fellow surgeons at home and abroad, and bring benefits or enlightenment to the professional advancement of them.

Objective:To compare preoperative portal vein embolization (PVE) using tris-acryl gelatin microspheres (TAGM) versus coils.Methods:From March 2016 to June 2018, 21 consecutive patients with a future liver remnant (FLR) ratio of less than 45% before planned major hepatectomy for malignant or benign liver diseases were enrolled from the First Department of Biliary Surgery, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital into this study. The patients were divided to receive portal vein embolization (PVE) using TAGM distally and coils proximally (the TC group) and PVE using multiple coils (the CC group). Post-PVE complications, liver function, routine blood tests; FLR hyperplasia, types of liver resection, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.Results:Eight patients were included in the TC group. There were 4 males and 4 females, with a mean age of (55.3±7.7) years. Of 13 patients included into the CC group, there were 11 males and 2 females, with a mean age of (52.6±11.3) years. There were no significant differences in sex, age, types of hepatic diseases, volume of FLR, ratio of FLR, ratio of standard FLR, types of surgery, operation duration, blood loss, major complications, and liver failure rates between the two groups. All patients in the two groups had successful PVE. The TC group developed effective growth of volume of FLR with one patient who failed to undergo surgery because of tumor progression. In the CC group, four patients failed to undergo liver resection: one patient developed thrombosis of the left branch and main trunk of portal vein; tumor progression occurred in one patient and two patients had insufficient FLR growth. Compared with the CC group, the TC group had a significantly higher volume of FLR hyperplasia [(9.0±2.8) % vs. (5.2±3.8) %, P<0.05], and a faster but insignificant increase in proliferation rate [(11.4±7.1) ml/d vs. (6.9±5.2) ml/d, P>0.05], a greater but insignificant increase in percentage of proliferation [(33.6±20.1) % vs. (20.9±15.1) %, P>0.05]. Conclusions:This study showed that PVE with TAGM plus coils is safe and effective. It induced a better degree of hypertrophy of FLR compared to PVE using multiple coils.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of preoperative sequential transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) followed by selective portal venous embolization (PVE) in patients with marginally resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).The aim was to find out whether this combined procedure helped to increase the rate of extended radical liver resection.Methods From March 2009 to November 2016,29 patients with HCC which were marginally resectable underwent preoperative TACE combined with PVE were included into this study.All these patients were subsequently assessed to undergo radical hepatectomy.The complications,laboratory results,volume changes of each liver lobe and patient survival were analyzed.Results TACE combined with PVE was successful in all the 29 patients.There were no major complications.After the procedure,the volumes of the tumor and the part of the liver to be resected decreased to certain degree.The remnant liver volume (RLV) increased remarkably.The RLV were (395.4 ±58.7) cm3 and (599.2 ±75.2) cm3 before and after the procedure,respectively.The difference was significant (P ＜ 0.05).19 patients underwent radical hemihepatectomy or trisectionectomy,with a resection rate of 65.5％ (19/29).There were sufficient surgical margins in all the resected tumors.After operation,the 1-,3-,and 5-year survival rates were 58.8％,35.5％ and 17.6％,respectively.Conclusion For HCC patients who had marginally resectable HCC,preoperative TACE combined with PVE efficiently controlled the growth of the tumors,decreased the volume of the liver lobe with tumor,increased the RLV,and made it possible for a planned two-stage radical hepatectomy with sufficient surgical margin and better survival in a significant proportion of patients.