Outcome of radical surgery for carcinoma of the gallbladder according to the tumor node metastasis and Japanese Society of Biliary Surgery stages

Primary carcinoma of the gallbladder is a progressive, lethal disease. Survival of patients with this neoplasm depends strictly on lymph node involvement and depth of tumor invasion. The aim of the study was to evaluate the results of our surgical series according to the tumor node metastasis and Japanese Society of Biliary Surgery classification systems. A retrospective analysis of our 15-year experience was performed. Of the 79 patients with gallbladder carcinoma observed at our institution between 1984 and 2001, a radical resection was carried out in 20 patients. Patients with stage I-II disease represent a minority of the cases of gallbladder carcinoma; the disease is localized in these patients, and surgical treatment provides the opportunity for good survival. Survival rates for patients with stage III-IV disease demonstrates that radical extended surgery offers the only chance for a relatively prolonged survival.