Extended lymphadenectomy in hilar cholangiocarcinoma: What it will bring?

Figure 1 The lymphatic drainage of the hilar bile duct. Three paths: (1) Left oblique pathway: From the hepatic artery (No. 12a) along the common hepatic artery (No. 8) to the celiac lymph nodes (No. 9); (2) Intermediate mesenteric pathway: First descending along the bile duct (No. 12b) and then runs on the posterior surface of the pancreas head (No. 13), and then to the para-aortic lymph node (No. 16); and (3) Right longitudinal pathway: Descending along the portal vein (No. 12p) to reach the superior mesenteric vein and then enters the superior mesenteric nodes (No. 14).