Purpose: To assess the effectiveness and safety of irradiation stent insertion for patients with distal biliary obstruction (DBO) secondary to primary common biliary cancer.
Material and methods: Eighty-two consecutive patients with DBO secondary to primary common biliary cancer were treated via either normal (n = 45) or irradiation stenting (n = 37) between January 2013 and December 2019. The instant and long-term outcomes were compared.
Results: Technical success rates of normal and irradiation stenting were both 100%. Clinical success rates of normal and irradiation stenting were 91.1 and 100%, respectively (p = .179). Stent reobstruction was observed in 13 and 7 patients in the normal and irradiation stenting groups, respectively (p = .295). The median stent patency was 162 and 225 days in the normal and irradiation stenting groups, respectively (p < .001). The median survival was 178 and 250 days in the normal and irradiation stenting groups, respectively (p < .001). Cholangitis was, respectively, observed in 8 and 12 patients in normal and irradiation stenting groups (p = .124).
Conclusion: Irradiation stenting is effective and safe for patients with DBO secondary to primary common biliary cancer and can prolong stent patency and survival.
Keywords: Stent; common biliary cancer; irradiation; obstructive.