Current study identifies radial margin distance cutoffs that significantly impact survival outcomes in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.

• Radical margin distance (rmd) of 0 mm correlates with a 5-year overall survival rate of only 21.8%, while ≥1.0 mm shows 78.5% survival.
• Recurrence rates are starkly different: 83.5% for rmd of 0 mm versus just 23.9% for rmd ≥1.0 mm.

Consider implementing dual cutoffs of 0 and 1 mm in clinical practice to better stratify patients based on recurrence risk and survival potential.

• Rmds of 0 mm and >0-<1.0 mm are independent predictors of poor outcomes with hazard ratios of 3.15 and 2.64, respectively.