Effect of reoperation on long-term outcome of pT1b/T2 gallbladder carcinoma after initial laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

backgroundA small proportion of gallbladder carcinomas (GBC) are incidentally detected after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). This study intended to analyze the effect of extended reoperation on the long-term outcome of patients with pT1b/T2 GBC who had initially undergone LC.

methodsA cohort of 203 patients who underwent R0 resection and whose pathology was pT1b or pT2 GBC was divided into 3 groups: open surgery (group I, n = 150), LC only (group II, n = 25), and initial LC and subsequent reoperation (group III, n = 28).

resultsMean ages were 62.3 ± 9.6 years, 65.9 ± 11.8 years, and 57.1 ± 7.7 years in groups I, II, and III, respectively (p = 0.001). The numbers of pT1b and pT2 patients were 75 and 75 in group I, 15 and 10 in group II, and 6 and 22 in group III, respectively. Residual tumors after LC were found in none of 6 pT1b patients and 5 of 22 pT2 patients. Overall 5-year patient survival rate was 70.1 % for all-cause death and 73.5 % for tumor recurrence-associated death (76.0 % in group I, 64.0 % in group II, and 63.0 % in group III [p = 0.607]; 84.4 % in pT1b group I, 68.8 % in pT1b group II, and 83.3 % in pT1b group III [p = 0.649]; 67.6 % in pT2 group I, 50 % in pT2 group II, and 61.9 % in pT2 group III [p = 0.895]). Concurrent bile duct resection in pT2 patients did not affect survival outcomes (p = 0.601).

conclusionsNo definite survival benefit from reoperation was observed in patients with pT1b lesions. Residual tumor was found in 23 % of pT2 patients after reoperation, and the survival outcomes of these patients were comparable to those of the open surgery group. Therefore, reoperation for pT1b GBC following LC can be individually indicated because its indication remains unclear, but it should be highly recommended for pT2 GBC.