A Multimodality Treatment Strategy for an Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma and Complex Liver Resection with Vascular Reconstruction-A Video Vignette

Abstract

Introduction: Radical resection remains the only curative option for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA).^1-3 Patients with multifocal tumors, vascular invasion, or lymph node metastasis are considered to have locally advanced disease.⁴ Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin as first line or with capecitabine and irinotecan as second line have shown oncological benefit.^5-8 More recently, Durvalumab has also showed benefit in addition to chemotherapy.⁹ For tumours with major vascular invasion, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a safe treatment option where upfront surgery may not provide the desired oncological outcomes.^10-13 We present a video where combination of modalities was used to achieve downstaging followed by surgery.

Case: A 64-year-old male patient was diagnosed with locally advanced iCCA involving left lobe with left portal vein thrombosis, left hepatic vein (LHV) encasement, and middle hepatic vein (MHV) abutment. Cancer antigen (CA) 19-9 was 1890 U/mL. After three cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin, response computed tomography (CT) scan showed disease progression, and second-line chemotherapy with immunotherapy (capecitabine, irinotecan, durvalumab) was started with stereotactic body radiation therapy. Response CT showed significant size reduction. CA 19-9 dropped to 17 U/mL. Patient was planned for left hepatectomy with portal vein resection (PVR) and segment 8 venous reconstruction.

Steps of surgery: 1. Kocherization, inter-aortocaval nodal sampling, and peri-portal dissection. 2. Parenchymal transection with left hepatic duct division, PVR with primary repair 3. Isolation of segment 8 vein, division distal to MHV-LHV confluence, specimen retrieval. 4. Reconstruction of segment 8 vein to MHV-LHV confluence using polytetrafluoroethylene graft (PTFE). Final histopathology report revealed complete pathological response. Patient was planned for two more cycles of same chemotherapy followed by observation.

Conclusion: Resection with periportal lymphadenectomy and negative margins remains the only curative option for iCCA. Multimodality options can be utilized to downstage tumor, and complex liver resection with vascular reconstruction can achieve excellent oncological outcomes.