Defining the possible therapeutic benefit of lymphadenectomy among patients undergoing hepatic resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Background The aim of the study was to investigate the therapeutic role of lymphadenectomy (LND) in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Methods 826 patients who underwent liver resection were identified using the SEER database from 1988 to 2011. Two groups of patients were defined: 201 (24%) undergoing potentially therapeutic LND (group A, >3 lymph nodes (LN) removed), and 625 (76%) not receiving therapeutic LND (group B, ≤3 LNs...