Diagnosis and treatment of patients with cholangiocarcinoma

Objective To explore the diagnosis and treatment of the cholangiocarcinoma. Methods Forty one patients with cholangiocarcinoma who were enrolled in our hospital from January 1970 to January 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. Results Among these 41 patients, the 1, 3, and 5-year survival rate was 82.3%, 45.8%, 45.8%, respectively, with radical operation, and was 11.0%, 0, 0 with non-radical operation(χ~2= 21.38,P 0.01). The 1-year and 3-year survival rate was 11.0% and 0 in 9 patients treated with laparatomy, which was not significantly different from those treated with non-radical operation (χ~2=0.02,P=0.89). Four patients did not receive operation and all died within one year. Among 25 patients who did not experience lymph node metastasis, the 1, 3, and 5-year survival rate was 58.4%, 27.3%, and 27.3%. Among 16 patients who were found lymph node metastasis, the 1-year and 3-year survival rate was 61.8% and 0(χ~2=13.85,P0.01). Conclusion Operation is the most effective treatment for cholangiocarcinoma.Radical operation is the only curative treatment.