Combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma (HCC-CC) is an uncommon form of primary liver cancer
(PLC) with features of hepatocellular and biliary epithelial differentiation. According to publishing records
HCC-CC accounts for 0.4% to 14.2% of all PLC cases. Large number of HCC-CC is associated with chronic viral
hepatitis or cirrhosis, especially in asian countries. The tumor markers of HCC-CC (AFP, CA19-9) shows the
intermediate level between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CC). The clinical features of
HCC-CC resembled with HCC but its post operative result and metastatic pattens are similar to that of CC.
Surgical results of this tumor can yield results that are intermediate between HCC and CC in characteristics. But
complete resection is the only effective therapy and can result in long term survival. And there are hot debates
for the additional hilar lymph node dissection. The survival rate of HCC-CC is higher than CC but lower than
HCC. The recurrence after resection has been frequently reported. Most of them are intrahepatic recurrences as
HCCs but extrahepatic recurrences are much more frequent like CC. The CC component of HCC-CC seem to
determine the prognosis. So more effective approaches for treating recurrent disease, such as local ablation
therapy and or combination systemic chemotherapy and neoadjuvant chemoradiation, should be applied for long
term and better results.