Original articles: step-by-step decision-making for achieving oncologically acceptable but avoiding over-invasive surgery for gallbladder cancer

Abstract

Background

Gallbladder cancer is a malignancy with a highly dismal prognosis, requiring optimal surgical strategies to achieve effective outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of our algorithm-based decision-making approach based on image T-factors and intraoperative pathology of regional lymph node metastases and the bile duct stumps in patients undergoing gallbladder cancer resection.

Methods

A prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent gallbladder cancer resection between April 2001 and June 2022 was reviewed. Our approach included the decision on the extent of local lymph node dissection based on image T-factors and intraoperative rapid pathological diagnosis. The need for extra bile duct resection was decided according to the intraoperative rapid pathological diagnosis of the cystic or bile duct stump.

Results

Overall, 148 patients underwent gallbladder cancer resection and were assessed to evaluate the efficacy of an institutional algorithm-based surgical strategy. Oncologically acceptable surgery rate was 98.6 and 96.9 % in terms of decision-making on the extents of lymph node dissection and bile duct resection, respectively.

Conclusion

Our step-by-step decision-making approach based on image T-factors and intraoperative pathology for gallbladder cancer resection was effective in achieving oncologically acceptable surgeries.