Combined Hepatocellular–Cholangiocarcinoma Had Poor Outcomes after Hepatectomy Regardless of Allen and Lisa Class or the Predominance of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Cells within the Tumor

Abstract

We evaluated the surgical outcomes of combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma (CHC) in relation to Allen and Lisa class and the predominance of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) cells within the tumor. We retrospectively studied 44 patients with CHC who underwent hepatectomy between 1987 and 2010. Clinicopathologic characteristics and surgical outcomes were compared in relation to Allen and Lisa class (33 combined type, 11 mixed type) and the predominance of ICC cells within the tumor (cases in which ICC cells accounted for 50% or less of all cells within the tumor, n = 22; cases in which ICC cells accounted for more than 50%, n = 22). The survival rate for 42 patients with CHC who underwent curative surgery was 24% at 5 years, and median survival was 15.4 months. According to Allen and Lisa class, the number of cases with portal invasion was far higher in patients with the mixed type than in patients with the combined type. The 5-year survival rates of patients with the combined type and mixed type who underwent curative surgery were 27% and 13%, respectively, showing no statistically significant difference. According to the predominance of ICC cells, there was no difference in clinicopathologic findings between the groups. The 5-year survival rates of patients with ≤50% and >50% ICC cells within the tumor who underwent curative surgery were 21% and 26%, respectively, showing no statistically significant difference. CHC had poor outcomes after hepatectomy regardless of Allen and Lisa class or the predominance of ICC cells within the tumor.