Do hepatic-sided tumors require more extensive resection than peritoneal-sided tumors in patients with T2 gallbladder cancer? Results of a retrospective multicenter study

Background. Tumor location is a prognostic factor for survival in patients with T2 gallbladder cancer. However, the optimal extent of resection according to tumor location remains unclear. Methods. We reviewed the records of 192 patients with T2 gallbladder cancer who underwent RO or RI resection at 6 institutions. Perioperative and oncologic outcomes were compared according to the extent of resection between hepatic-sided (n = 93) and peritoneal-sided (n = 99) tumors. Results. After a median follow-up of 30 months, the 5-year overall survival (84.9% vs 71.8%, P = .048) and recurrence-free survival (74.6% vs 62.2%, P = .060) were greater in peritoneal-sided T2 patients than in hepatic-sided T2 patients. Among hepatic-sided T2 patients, the 5-year overall survival was greater in patients who underwent radical cholecystectomy including lymph node dissection with liver resection than in patients who underwent lymph node dissection without liver resection (80.3% vs 30.0%, P = .032), and the extent of liver resection was not associated with overall survival (P = .526). Lymph node dissection without liver resection was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in hepatic-sided T2 gallbladder cancer (hazard ratio 5.009, 95% confidence interval 1.512-16.596, P = .008). In peritoneal-sided T2 patients, the 5-year overall survival was not significantly different between the lymph node dissection with liver resection and the lymph node dissection without liver resection subgroups (70.5% vs 54.8%, P = .111) and the extent of lymph node dissection was not associated with overall survival (P = .395). Conclusion. In peritoneal-sided T2 gallbladder cancer, radical cholecystectomy including lymph node dissection without liver resection is a reasonable operative option. Radical cholecystectomy including lymph node dissection with liver resection is suitable for hepatic-sided T2 gallbladder cancer.