Significance of cholecystectomy in cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian cancer

There have been no studies concerning the complications or benefits of cholecystectomy in ovarian cancer. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the outcomes of cholecystectomy performed during various time periods of the disease course and suggest a management strategy for cholecystectomy in ovarian cancer.

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with advanced ovarian cancer who underwent cholecystectomy during the cytoreductive surgery from 2009 to 2020. Cholecystectomy was primarily indicated when the gallbladder and surrounding structures were considered to have metastatic tumor invasion. If the final pathologic results showed free of malignant tumor, patients were placed into the no-infiltration group. Clinical outcomes including the recurrence rate and complications were analyzed.

A total of 62 patients underwent cholecystectomy, 48 of whom (77.4%) underwent cholecystectomy during primary or interval debulking surgery, whereas 14 (22.6%) underwent cholecystectomy during the follow-up period (five with benign disease and 9 with disease recurrence). Among the patients, 32 (51.6%) patients were included in the no-infiltration group in the final pathology. There were no complications observed in the no-infiltration group (n = 32). Seven (78%) of the nine patients who received cholecystectomy for disease recurrence had metastatic disease in the porta-hepatis or lesser sac at the time of primary surgery. However, no recurrent lesions were observed around the porta-hepatis in patients who received cholecystectomy during primary treatment.

Considering the safety of the procedure, as well as the risk of disease recurrence or cholecystitis, a cholecystectomy can be offered to patients with ovarian cancer who have metastatic lesions around the gallbladder and porta-hepatis at the time of primary surgery.