Brief Article
Copyright ©2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 21, 2010; 16(7): 881-885
Published online Feb 21, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i7.881
Etiological and clinicopathologic characteristics of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in young patients
Hua-Bang Zhou, Hui Wang, Dong-Xun Zhou, Hao Wang, Qing Wang, Shan-Shan Zou, He-Ping Hu
Hua-Bang Zhou, Hui Wang, Dong-Xun Zhou, Hao Wang, Qing Wang, Shan-Shan Zou, He-Ping Hu, Department II of Comprehensive Treatment, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China
Author contributions: Zhou HB and Hu HP designed the study; Wang H, Zhou DX, Wang H, Wang Q, Zou SS analyzed data; Zhou HB and Hu HP wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Dr. He-Ping Hu, Professor, Department II of Comprehensive Treatment, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China. hp-hu@medmail.com.cn
Telephone: +86-21-81875141 Fax: +86-21-65566851
Received: November 5, 2009
Revised: December 19, 2009
Accepted: December 26, 2009
Published online: February 21, 2010
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and clinicopathologic characteristics of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) in young patients.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed in ICC patients referred to the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital in Shanghai, China. Among 317 consecutively enrolled patients, 40 patients were aged ≤ 40 years (12.61%). We compared the risk factors and clinicopathologic characteristics of these patients (group I: n = 40) with those aged > 40 years (group II: n = 277).

RESULTS: Group I had distinct features compared with group II, including a low frequency of hepatolithiasis (P = 0.000); a high positive rate of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (P = 0.000) and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated cirrhosis (P = 0.038); a high frequency of α-fetoprotein (> 400 μg/L) (P = 0.011); a low frequency of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (> 37 U/mL) (P = 0.017); and a high frequency of liver histological inflammation (P = 0.002). Although there was no significant difference between the two groups in regards to hepatic schistosomiasis, alcohol-associated cirrhosis and cirrhosis due to other causes (P > 0.05), they only occurred in the elderly group.

CONCLUSION: The risk factors are significantly different between young and elderly ICC patients. HBV and HBV-associated cirrhosis are the most important risk factors for young ICC patients.

Keywords: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma; Young patients; Clinicopathologic features; Hepatitis B virus; Risk factor