[Retrospective analysis of 47 cases with hilar cholangiocarcinoma using T-staging system].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical value of T-staging system for hilar cholangiocarcinoma which was adopted in memorial Sloan-Kettering cancer center of New York.

Methods: The image data of these 47 patients were analyzed retrospectively from December 1997 to December 2002 whose data were according with our demand, and they were staged into three-stage according to the criteria of the T-staging system. The difference of respectability, ratio of tumor-free resection margin and actuarial survival rate were analyzed for different T-staging. And the coincident ratio of three different kinds of imaging methods was also analyzed.

Results: Twenty patients had T(1) tumors, twenty three had T(2) tumors and four had T(3) tumors. The resectability of the three stage was 60%, 39% and 0% respectively, and the difference was significant (P = 0.013). The likelihood of achieving tumor-free margin decreased progressively with increasing T stage (P = 0.018). The cumulative 1-year survival rates of T(1), T(2) and T(3) patients were 60%, 39% and 0% respectively, and the cumulative 3-year survival rate was 35%, 9% and 0% respectively, the survival of different stage patients differed markedly (P = 0.0103). The coincident ratio of combined using MRCP and color Doppler-ultrasonography was higher than that of combined using MRCP and B-ultrasonography or combined using CT/SCT and color Doppler-ultrasonography (P = 0.007).

Conclusions: The T-staging system has a better value for preoperative assessment, and can be used to judge resectability and survival of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. It will be helpful to use MRCP and color Doppler-Ultrasonography combined to verdict the coverage of the tumor and the T-staging preoperatively.