Effect of lymph node resection on prognosis of resectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of lymph node dissection in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). METHODS: The literature from January 2009 to December 2021 was searched to determine the comparative study of lymph node dissection and non-lymph node dissection in patients with ICC. RESULTS: Seventeen studies were included in the analysis. There were no significant differences in 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival (OR = 0.80, p = 0.10; OR = 0.93, p = 0.71; OR = 0.80, p = 0.21) and 1-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free survival (OR = 0.89, p = 0.73; OR = 0.92, p = 0.81; OR = 0.85, p = 0.62). CONCLUSIONS: Lymph node dissection does not seem to have a positive effect on the overall survival and disease-free survival.