Volume-Restricted Resection for Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma

Overview

The goal of this observational study is to learn about the safety and long-term outcomes of volume-restricted liver resection in patients with perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) who have an insufficient future liver remnant (FLR). The main question it aims to answer is: Does volume-restricted liver resection improve surgical safety and long-term survival compared with standard treatment in pCCA patients with insufficient FLR? Participants with insufficient FLR who undergo volume-restricted liver resection or receive non-surgical treatment as part of their routine medical care will be followed for survival, postoperative complications, and other clinical outcomes. Data from patients with sufficient FLR undergoing standard radical resection will also be collected for comparison.

Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) is a highly malignant tumor arising at the confluence of the right and left hepatic bile ducts. Its deep anatomical location and proximity to critical vascular structures render curative resection technically challenging and associated with substantial surgical risk. Surgical resection remains the only potentially curative treatment offering long-term survival. However, in some patients, an insufficient future liver remnant (FLR) precludes extensive hepatectomy, as it markedly increases the risk of postoperative liver failure and mortality, thereby limiting resectability and adversely affecting prognosis. In recent years, volume-restricted liver resection has attracted growing interest. By ensuring negative bile duct margins while preserving as much functional liver parenchyma as possible, this approach may reduce the incidence of postoperative liver failure and improve both overall survival and quality of life. Nevertheless, prospective, multicenter, real-world evidence on the safety and efficacy of volume-restricted liver resection in pCCA patients with insufficient FLR remains scarce. Against this background, the present study will target pCCA patients with insufficient FLR, implementing surgical strategies tailored to tumor extent and clinical presentation. These include perihilar resection, segment IVb resection, caudate-lobe-based resection (Taj Mahal procedure: resection of S1 + S4b + S5), and central hepatectomy (resection of S1 + S4 + S5 + S8). Outcomes will be compared with those of patients receiving non-surgical multimodal therapy, as well as with patients with sufficient FLR undergoing standard radical resection. By leveraging prospective, multicenter, real-world data, this study aims to evaluate the role of volume-restricted liver resection in improving surgical safety, reducing postoperative complications, and enhancing long-term survival, thereby providing evidence to refine surgical strategies for pCCA.