ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the efficacy of 125I particle bile duct intraluminal and intratumoral implantation for treatment of unresectable pancreatic head carcinoma (PHC). Methods: Clinical data of 72 patients with unresectable PHC were analyzed retrospectively. Among them 37 patients were treated with 125I particle bile duct intraluminal and intratumoral implantation (125I group), and 35 cases underwent laparoscopic palliative surgery (PS group). The postoperative liver function, complications, medial survival time and survival rate at the end of follow-up were compared between the two groups. Results: The levels of serum total bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase significantly decreased compared with those of preoperation, the level of serum albumin significantly decreased at 1, 3 and 6 months of postoperation in both groups, especially in 125I group at 3 and 6 months of postoperation (all P<0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications was 28.57% (10/35) in PS group and 21.62% (8/37) in 125I group, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.496). The medial survival time was 9 months in PS group and 11 months in 125I group (P=0.041). Conclusion: 125I particle bile duct intraluminal and intratumoral implantation can effectively alleviate symptoms of bile duct obstruction and prolong survival time of PHC patients.