In resected perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (PHC), positive ductal margin (DM) is associated with poor survival. There is currently little knowledge about the impact of positive radial margin (RM) when DM is negative. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and the role of positive RM. Patients who underwent surgery between 2005 and 2017 where retrospectively reviewed and stratified according to margin positivity: an isolated RM-positive group and DM ± RM group. Of the 75 patients identified; 34 (45.3%) had R1 resection and 17 had positive RM alone. Survival was poorer in patients with R1 resection compared to R0 (p = 0.019). After stratification according to margin positivity; R0 patients showed better survival than DM ± RM-positive patients (p = 0.004; MST 43.9 vs. 23.6 months), but comparable to RM-positive patients (p = 0.361; MST 43.9 vs. 39.5 months). Recurrence was higher in DM ± RM group compared to R0 (p = 0.0017; median disease-free survival (DFS) 15 vs. 30 months); but comparable between RM and R0 group (p = 0.39; DFS 20 vs. 30 months). In univariate and multivariate analysis, DM positivity resulted as a negative prognostic factor both for survival and recurrence. In conclusion, positive RM resections appear to have different recurrence patterns and survival rates than positive DM resections.

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In the context of spreading interest in textbook outcome (TO) evaluation in different fields, we aimed to investigate an uncharted procedure, that is, laparoscopic microwave ablation (MWA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Absence of post-MWA complications, a hospital stay of three days, no mortality nor readmission within 30 days, and complete response of the target lesion at post-MWA CT scan defined TO achievement. Patients treated between January 2014 and March 2021 were retrospectively reviewed, and of the 521 patients eligible for the study, 337 (64.7%) fulfilled all the quality indicators to achieve the TO. The absence of complications was the main limiting factor for accomplishing TO. At multivariable analysis, Child–Pugh B cirrhosis, age of more than 70 years old, three nodules, and MELD score ≥ 15 were associated with decreased probabilities of TO achievement. A score based on these factors was derived from multivariable analysis, and patients were divided into three risk groups for TO achievement. At survival analysis, overall survival (OS) was significantly (p = 0.001) higher in patients who achieved TO than those who did not. Moreover, OS evaluation in the three risk groups showed a trend coherent with TO achievement probability. The present study, having assessed the first TO for laparoscopic MWA for HCC, encourages further broader consensus on its definition and, on its basis, on the development of clinically relevant tools for managing treatment allocation.

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