Current status and ongoing controversies of mini-invasive surgery for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC)is a malignant tumor of the liver bile ducts,with an unclear etiology.ICC is highly invasive and often asymptomatic in the early stages,leading to late-stage diagnosis and limited opportunities for curative liver resection in early-stage patients.Minimally invasive surgery has been gradually advancing in the treatment of ICC,including laparoscopic liver resection,robot-assisted laparoscopic liver resection,microwave ablation,and interventional therapy.Studies have shown that compared to traditional open liver resection,laparoscopic liver resection in ICC patients results in shorter postoperative hospital stays,less intraoperative bleeding,with comparable lymph node dissection rates.Controversies exist regarding the necessity and feasibility of lymphadenectomy in minimally invasive treatment of ICC.Robot-assisted laparoscopic liver resection allows for more comprehensive liver resection and facilitates bile duct reconstruction,providing valuable three-dimensional surgical views.The number of lymph nodes removed in minimally invasive liver resection is similar to open surgery,with significantly reduced operating time and postoperative hospital stays compared to open surgery.This article discusses the benefits and controversies surrounding minimally invasive liver resection for ICC,including the extent of resection and lymph node dissection.