ObjectiveTo discuss the treatment methods and outcome of hilar cholangiocarcinoma. MethodsFrom January 2002 to December 2008, 81 cases of hilar cholangiocarcinoma were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsAmong 81 patients, there were 55 males and 26 females, ages were from 38 to 72 years with an average age 57.5 years. In BismuthCorlette classification, 5 cases were type Ⅰ, 15 cases type Ⅱ, 14 cases type Ⅲa, 14 cases type Ⅲb, 33 cases type Ⅳ, according to the preoperative results of MRCP, but the classification of 15 cases were not consistent to the preoperative results (5 cases type Ⅱ, 8 cases type Ⅲ, 2 cases type Ⅳ) according to the results of intraoperative exploration. The rates of complications of radical operation, palliative operation, internal biliary drainage, and external biliary drainage were 54.5%(12/22), 58.8%(10/17), 23.8%(5/21), and 66.7%(14/21), respectively. The rate of complications of internal biliary drainage was lower than that of the other three methods (Plt;0.01), there were no significant differences among the other three methods. The 1, 2, 3, and 5year survival rates of 22 patients with radical operation, 17 patients with palliative operation, 21 patients with internal biliary drainage, 21 patients with external biliary drainage were 75.0%, 60.0%, 38.3%, 2.6%; 72.7%, 26.5%, 4.2%, 0; 50.5%, 15.8%, 2.2%, 0; 30.6%, 8.5%, 0, 0, respectively. The median survival time was 29.5 months, 13.8 months, 10.5 months, and 8.3 months, respectively. Survival rate of radical operation was higher than that of palliative operation (χ2=14.20, P=0.000 3), palliative operation was higher than that of internal biliary drainage (χ2=4.50, P=0.040 5), and internal biliary drainage was higher than that of external biliary drainage (χ2=4.45, P=0.040 1). ConclusionsThe BismuthCorlette classification is a guide to the required surgery, but the results of intraoperative exploration decides the final classification and operative method. Radical resection is the main related factors influencing the therapy efficacy of hilar cholangiocarcinona. Basinstyle anastomosis and T type supportingtube is the first choice of palliative operation. External drainage, to the full, is avoided.