Clinical Trends, Treatment Outcomes, and Survival Analysis of Cholangiocarcinoma: A Retrospective Study at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and research center.

Introduction Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an aggressive malignancy, classified as intrahepatic (iCCA) or extra-hepatic (eCCA). It represents a significant challenge due to its late-stage diagnosis, often asymptomatic early in its progression, resulting in poor prognosis. Given the rising incidence and mortality rates, a deeper understanding of its clinical trends is necessary. Methodology We retrospective analyzed 132 CCA patients from 2016–2020. Patient demographics, clinical stage, histology, and treatment details were collected, with follow-up data included. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software, assessing survival rates via Kaplan-Meier method. Comparisons between treatment groups were made using the log-rank test. Results Out of 132 patients, 53% were male, with a mean age of 54.5 years. A majority (65.2%) had eCCA, and 19 patients underwent surgery, with 13 receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. Survival outcomes were better in those who received surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy, with a significant p-value of < 0.001. iCCA patients had superior survival compared to those with eCCA, with a median of 23 months compared to those with extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma, who had a median survival of 10 months. Literature suggests that survival for eCCA can range up to 36 months, while for iCCA, it typically ranges between 18 to 24 months. Conclusion Surgical resection remains the best option for CCA, though many patients are limited to palliative care due to advanced stage. Chemotherapy regimens, such as gemcitabine and cisplatin, provide some survival benefit, but the prognosis remains poor. Further research into early detection and novel treatments is critical to improving patient outcomes.