Volume-Restricted Resection for Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma

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.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with pathologically confirmed hilar cholangiocarcinoma, or those with a high index of clinical suspicion for hilar bile duct malignancy despite the lack of histological confirmation.
• Patients who are able to understand and cooperate with this study.
• Patients who are able to provide and sign the written informed consent form before undergoing any screening procedures related to the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with preoperatively or intraoperatively confirmed distant metastasis, including peritoneal dissemination, distant lymph node metastasis, hepatic or other organ metastasis.
• Patients who underwent palliative surgery only.