ObjectiveTo explore the treatment and prognostic factors of typeⅢhilar cholangiocarcinoma. MethodsThe data of 170 cases of typeⅢhilar cholangiocarcinoma treated in our hospital from Jan. 2002 to Dec. 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsAmong these 170 patients of typeⅢhilar cholangiocarcinoma, 109 patients underwent surgical exploration in which 60 patients underwent resection and the remaining 49 patients were found unresectable and underwent U-tube or metallic stent drainage. Sixty one patients were preoperatively assessed as unresectable in which 14 patients underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage and the remaining 47 patients refused any surgical intervention. Results of Cox proportional hazard model showed that residual tumor status (HR=4.621, 95% CI:1.907-11.199, P=0.001), lymph node metastasis (HR=2.792, 95% CI:1.393-5.598, P=0.004), and hepatectomy (HR=3.003, 95% CI:1.373-6.569, P=0.006) were independent prognostic factors which associated with patients in resection group. Besides, treatmentR0 resection (HR=0.177, 95% CI:0.081-0.035, P < 0.001), no treatment (HR=5.568, 95% CI:2.733-11.342, P < 0.001)] and vascular invasion (HR=1.667, 95% CI:1.152-2.412, P=0.007) were prognostic factors associated with all patients. ConclusionsTreatment and vascular invasion are the most important predictors of prolonging survival associated with typeⅢhilar cholangiocarcinoma. Besides, R0 resection including hepatectomy without lymph nodes metastasis is feasible in the majority of patients with resectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma.