Treatment of common bile duct obstruction by pancreatic cancer using various stents: single-center experience.
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.
Nakamura
Toshifumi
T
Department of Gastroenterology, Hamamatsu Medical Center, 328 Tomitsuka-cho, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan. toshinakamur@h3.dion.ne.jp
Hirai
Ritsuko
R
Kitagawa
Mutsuo
M
Takehira
Yasunori
Y
Yamada
Masami
M
Tamakoshi
Katsutoshi
K
Kobayashi
Yoshimasa
Y
Nakamura
Hirotoshi
H
Kanamori
Masao
M
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
D010969:Plastics