title: Treatment of common bile duct obstruction by pancreatic cancer using various stents: single-center experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effectiveness of various means of stenting in patients with biliary obstruction caused by pancreatic cancer in a retrospective analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-two patients with biliary obstruction due to unresectable pancreatic cancer underwent biliary stenting. On the basis of the findings obtained by percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (10 patients) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (52 patients), the site of obstruction was distal to the hilar confluence, predominantly especially in the middle to lower third of the common bile duct. Polyurethane-covered Wallstents (9 mm in diameter) were inserted in 13 patients, while uncovered Wallstents (10 mm in diameter) were used in 10 patients and plastic stents (10 Fr and 12 Fr) were used in 39 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stenting was successful in 34 patients (87.2%) treated with plastic stents and in 22 patients (95.7%) treated with Wallstents. Effective biliary drainage was achieved in 32 out of 34 patients (94.1%) treated with plastic stents and in 21 out of 22 patients (95.5%) treated with Wallstents. The cumulative patency rate was significantly higher for the uncovered and covered Wallstents compared to plastic stents, but was not significantly higher for covered than for uncovered Wallstents. Stent occlusion occurred in 23 patients (70%; all by clogging) from the plastic stent group, in two patients (22%; by tumor ingrowth) from the uncovered Wallstent group, and in one patient (9%; by clogging) from the covered Wallstent group. The survival rate showed no significant difference among the three stent groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Wallstent is effective for long-term palliation in patients with obstruction caused by pancreatic cancer invading the middle to lower part of the common bile duct. The covered Wallstent can prevent tumor ingrowth, a problem with the uncovered Wallstent. However, it may be necessary to take measures to prevent the migration or clogging of covered Wallstents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hamamatsu Medical Center, 328 Tomitsuka-cho, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan. toshinakamur@h3.dion.ne.jp
authors.forename: Toshifumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Ritsuko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hirai
authors.forename: Mutsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kitagawa
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takehira
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Katsutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamakoshi
authors.forename: Yoshimasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Hirotoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanamori
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001651:Cholestasis, Extrahepatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003137:Common Bile Duct Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000517:prevention & control; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D010969:Plastics; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics