Rates, Predictors, and Outcomes of Portal Lymphadenectomy for Resectable Gallbladder Cancer

Phillip M. Kemp Bohan, Anne E. O’Shea, Oriana V. Ellis, Robert C. Chick, Alex M. Clem, Derek T. Kirby, Julia O. Bader, Timothy E. Newhook, G. Travis Clifton, Ching Wei D. Tzeng, Daniel W. Nelson, Timothy J. Vreeland

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Lymphadenectomy (LND) is recommended following surgical resection of ≥ T1b gallbladder cancer (GBC). However, frequency and stage-specific survival benefits of LND remain unclear. Patients and Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB; 2006-15) was queried for resected pathologic stage I–III GBC. LND performance, predictors of receiving LND, and LND association with overall survival (OS) were assessed. Results: Of 2302 total patients, 1343 (58.3%) underwent LND. Patients who underwent LND were younger and more frequently had private health insurance, a negative surgical margin, higher pathologic T stage, and received adjuvant chemotherapy (all p < 0.001). LND rates were highest at academic centers (70.1%) relative to all other facility types (p < 0.001). LND was independently associated with improved OS [hazard ratio (HR) 0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.44–0.61]. LND was associated with improved OS for pT1b, pT2, and pT3 patients (all p < 0.05) on univariate analysis. LND was independently associated with improved OS in pT2 (HR 0.44, CI 0.35–0.56) and pT3 (HR 0.54, CI 0.43–0.69) patients. Conclusions: LND is associated with a 48% reduction in risk of death in patients with resectable non-metastatic GBC, with greatest impact in pT2–3 patients. Patients without LND have similar OS to patients with node-positive disease, highlighting the importance of LND. Underutilization of LND likely results in undertreatment of patients with undiagnosed nodal disease, which may contribute to unfavorable oncologic outcomes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2960-2972
Number of pages13
JournalAnnals of surgical oncology
Volume28
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2021

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Oncology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Rates, Predictors, and Outcomes of Portal Lymphadenectomy for Resectable Gallbladder Cancer'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this