title: Palliation of biliary obstruction in patients with advanced breast cancer using endoscopic stents.
abstract: Endoscopic insertion of a biliary endoprosthesis was successful in eight patients with extrahepatic biliary obstruction caused by breast cancer metastases. The serum bilirubin level was significantly reduced in seven patients and in four this was accompanied by marked symptomatic improvement. Endoprostheses required replacement after a median of 8 (range 3-127) weeks. Two patients responding to systemic anticancer therapy survived 27 and 43 months. Endoscopically placed stents offer effective palliation of extrahepatic biliary obstruction caused by metastatic breast cancer and long-term survival may be possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Auckland Hospital, New Zealand.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hamilton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D001651:Cholestasis, Extrahepatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D015607:Stents