Application of a computer-assisted operation planning system in curative hepatectomy for complex hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Abstract

Objective To evaluate a computer-assisted operation planning system in curative hepatectomy for complex hilar cholangiocarcinoma.Methods The clinical data of 15 patients with complex hilar cholangiocarcinoma who were admitted to the Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2008 to December 2009 were retrospectively analyzed.Based on triple-phase contrast-enhanced computed tomography inages,a computer-assisted operative planning system was used to evaluate the anatomic relationship between the tumor and its adjacent vessels,liver volume,operative feasibility,and the potential surgical approaches.The accuracy of three-dimensional reconstruction was tested by comparison to actual intraoperative findings.The correlation between actual liver resection volumes and predicted liver resection volumes was analyzed by calculating a Pearson correlation coefficient.Differences in liver volumes calculated by two-dimensional techniques versus three-dimensional reconstruction were analyzed using the paired t test,and the error rate was compared using the chi-squarc test. Results Fifteen patients received curative hepatectomy,including extended hemihepatectomy in 8 patients and trisectionectony in 7 patients.Preoperative evaluation of the hepatic anatomy based on three-dimensional reconstruction imaging was confirmed with operative findings.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy rates were 100.0％,72.7％ and 72.7％ for patients with portal invasion and 100.0％,78.6％ and 78.6％ for patients with hepatic arterial invasion,respectively.The actual liver resection volume was positively correlated with the predicted liver resection volume ( r =0.974,P ＜ 0.05 ).The mean liver volumes calculated by the three-dimensional reconstruction and the two-dimen-sional techniques were (458 ±86)ml and (491 ± 103 )ml,respectively,with no significant difference (t =-1.911,P ＞0.05 ).The error rates of the three-dimensional reconstruction and the two-dimensional techniques were 4.7％ and 7.2％,respectively,with no significant differnece ( x2 =2.381,P ＞ 0.05 ).Five patients had postoperative complications,and each was cured with conservative or interventional management. Conclusion The application of a computer-assisted operation planning system may improve the safety and accuracy of curative resection for complex hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Key words: Cholangioearcinoma, hilar; Thrce-dimensional reconstruction; Surgical planning; Hepatectomy