Long-term results of balloon dilation of benign bile duct strictures.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the results of percutaneous balloon dilation of benign bile duct strictures in a series of patients with a long follow-up period.


METHODS
56 patients with benign bile duct strictures underwent balloon catheter dilation. These patients had strictures of various origins: postsurgical, postlocal not surgical treatments, associated with gallstones, due to primary sclerosing cholangitis and to Mirizzi's syndrome. In 41 cases the diagnosis was made on the basis of radiological findings and history and in 15 cases on the basis of transluminal biopsy.


RESULTS
In 87.5% of cases the treatment was immediately successful. There were no early recurrences, but 7 (21%) recurrences were seen over 1 year after treatment; of these, 57% underwent another balloon dilation procedure with a positive long-term outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
The long-term success rate obtained in 72% of this series confirms that percutaneous bile duct dilation is a valid alternative to surgery without being burdened by complications; the procedure is also a valid alternative to the approach using endoscopic stents.
Suman
L
L
Department of Radiology National Tumor Institute, Milan, Italy. rdc@istitutotumori.mi.it
Civelli
E M
EM
Cozzi
G
G
Milella
M
M
Meroni
R
R
Vercelli
R
R
Sala
S
S
Severini
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002404:Catheterization; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors