Clinical implication of the geometric location (fundal end versus cystic ductal end) of gallbladder cancer

Abstract Background Management of early‐stage gallbladder cancer is becoming more important as the rate of early detection is increasing. Although there have been many studies about the clinical implication of the invasion depth or peritoneal/hepatic location of gallbladder cancers, there is no study on the clinical implication of the geometric location of cancer along the longitudinal length of the gallbladder. Methods The location of gallbladder cancer was defined as the geometric center of the primary site of a tumour, which lies on the longitudinal diameter of the surgical specimens. We compared the oncologic outcomes following surgery between gallbladder cancers located on the fundal end and those located on the cystic ductal end. We also analysed patients with stage 1 gallbladder cancer who recurred after surgery. Results A total of 575 patients with gallbladder cancer were included in this study. Patients with gallbladder cancer on the cystic ductal end had significantly lower rates of recurrence‐free survival ( P = 0.016) and overall survival ( P = 0.023) compared to those with gallbladder cancer on the fundal end. Among 90 patients with stage 1 gallbladder cancer, three patients had a recurrence, all of whom had cystic ductal end gallbladder cancer and showed cystic duct invasion or concomitant xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis in permanent pathology. Conclusions Gallbladder cancers on the cystic ductal end had worse postoperative oncologic outcomes compared with those on the fundal end.