Clinical analysis of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography biliary stent implantation in treatment of malignant biliary stricture / 肿瘤研究与临床

Objective:To explore the efficacy of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) biliary stent implantation in patients with unresectable malignant biliary stricture (MBS) and the influencing factors of overall survival.Methods:The clinical data of 346 patients who underwent ERCP biliary stent implantation due to MBS from May 2013 to October 2016 in Xijing Digestive Disease Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital and Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University were retrospectively analyzed, and the efficacy, complications and risk factors affecting overall survival were also analyzed.Results:After ERCP biliary stent implantation, the levels of total bilirubin, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase were lower than those before surgery (all P < 0.01). The incidence of infection after operation was 14.7% (51/346), and the incidence of biliary infection was 13.0% (45/346). The incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) was 4.6% (16/346). The median survival time after ERCP was 131.0 d (70.3 d, 246.5 d). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the independent risk factors affecting the overall survival patients included the hilar bile duct stenosis ( HR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.44-2.38, P < 0.01), preoperative bilirubin level exceeding the upper limit of normal level by 5 times ( HR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.30-2.36, P < 0.01), carbohydrate antigen 199 level exceeding the upper limit of normal level by 10 times ( HR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.00-1.61, P = 0.050), vascular and organ metastasis ( HR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.04-1.69, P = 0.023), and the poor jaundice decreasing level ( HR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.02-1.85, P = 0.037) . Conclusions:The ERCP biliary stent implantation is a safe and effective therapy for MBS. ERCP biliary stent implantation MBS patients with hilar bile duct stenosis, preoperative bilirubin levels more than 5 times of the upper limit of normal level, carbohydrate antigen 199 levels more than 10 times of the upper limit of normal level, vascular and organ metastasis, and poor jaundice decreasing level may have poor overall survival.

Endoscopic Ultrasonography-Guided Gallbladder Drainage as a Treatment Option for Acute Cholecystitis after Metal Stent Placement in Malignant Biliary Strictures

BACKGROUND/AIMS: It is often difficult to manage acute cholecystitis after metal stent (MS) placement in unresectable malignant biliary strictures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of endoscopic ultrasonography-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) for acute cholecystitis. METHODS: The clinical outcomes of 10 patients who underwent EUS-GBD for acute cholecystitis after MS placement between January 2011 and August 2018 were retrospectively evaluated. The procedural outcomes of percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) with tube placement (n=11 cases) and aspiration (PTGBA) (n=27 cases) during the study period were evaluated as a reference. RESULTS: The technical success and clinical effectiveness rates of EUS-GBD were 90% (9/10) and 89% (8/9), respectively. Severe bile leakage that required surgical treatment occurred in one case. Acute cholecystitis recurred after stent dislocation in 38% (3/8) of the cases. Both PTGBD and PTGBA were technically successful in all cases without severe adverse events and clinically effective in 91% and 63% of the cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-GBD after MS placement was a feasible option for treating acute cholecystitis. However, it was a rescue technique following the established percutaneous intervention in the current setting because of the immature technical methodology, including dedicated devices, which need further development.

Diagnostic Approach to Indeterminate Biliary Stricture / 대한췌담도학회지

Accurate diagnosis of biliary strictures is challenging and it commonly necessitates a multidisciplinary approach. There has been a great advancement of endoscopic techniques in tissue acquisition, laboratory tests, and imaging studies. Indeterminate biliary strictures are defined as strictures of no identifiable etiology despite extensive evaluation. Imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, multi-detector computed tomography play a great role in evaluating the level, degree, length of biliary strictures and presence of a mass. Early and accurate diagnosis as malignant stricture can determine not only optimal timing of surgery, but also potential timely chemotherapy. No assertive diagnostic modalities to distinguish benign from malignant strictures is yet established. This article reviews various etiologies of biliary strictures and discusses the laboratory evaluation, imaging modalities and promising endoscopic work-up with biopsy to improve the diagnostic sensitivity.

Prospective Comparison of Intraductal Ultrasonography-Guided Transpapillary Biopsy and Conventional Biopsy on Fluoroscopy in Suspected Malignant Biliary Strictures

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In suspected malignant biliary strictures (MBSs), the diagnostic yield of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-based tissue sampling is limited. Transpapillary forceps biopsy (TPB) under intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) guidance is expected to improve the diagnostic accuracy in patients with indeterminate biliary strictures. We evaluated the usefulness of IDUS-guided TPB in patients with suspected MBS. METHODS: Consecutive patients with suspected MBS were prospectively enrolled in the study. ERCP with IDUS was performed in all patients. Both conventional TPB and IDUS-guided TPB on fluoroscopy were performed in each patient. The primary outcome was the diagnostic accuracy of conventional TPB and IDUS-guided TPB. RESULTS: The technical success rate of IDUS-guided TPB was 97.0% (65/67 patients). Of these 65 patients, the final diagnosis was malignancy in 61 patients (93.8%). On IDUS, the most common finding of IDUS was an intraductal infiltrating lesion in 29 patients (47.5%). The overall diagnostic accuracy was significantly higher using IDUS-guided TPB than that using conventional TPB (90.8% vs 76.9%, p=0.027). According to the subgroup analysis based on the tumor morphology, IDUS-guided TPB had a significantly higher cancer detection rate than conventional TPB for intraductal infiltrating lesions (89.6% vs 65.5%, p=0.028). CONCLUSIONS: IDUS-guided TPB appears to improve the accuracy of histological diagnosis in patients with MBS.

Intraductal radiofrequency ablation under direct vision of choledochoscopy for the treatment of malignant common hepatic duct stricture / 中华消化外科杂志

Novel intraductal radiofrequency ablation for malignant biliary stricture indicated good therapeutic prospect.In traditional intraductal radiofrequency ablation,the radiofrequency catheter was placed through endoscopic retrograde cholangiography or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram under the supervision of X-ray.In February 2014,a patient with intrahepatic adenocarcinoma of the bile duct and malignant common hepatic duct stricture was admitted to the Shenzhen People's Hospital.The patient received cholecystectomy + choledocholithotomy + T tube drainage 3 months prior to the admission.The results of histopathological examination indicated reactive hyperplasia.The patient recovered uneventfully after the operation.One week before the admission,the patient had jaundice and umber urine and received choledochoscopy + common bile duct dilatation + histopathological examination + biliary stent placement.The results of pathological examination confirmed that the patient had intrahepatic adenocarcinoma of the bile duct.The patient received intraductal radiofrequency ablation through T-tube fistula under direct vision of choledochoscopy,and recovered well after the operation.Intraductal radiofrequency ablation under direct vision of choledochoscopy not only has the advantages of accurate positioning and real-time monitoring,but also facilitate cyclical repeat treatment.

Preoperative Drainage for Malignant Biliary Strictures: Is It Time for Self-Expanding Metallic Stents?

Palliation of jaundice improves the general health of the patient and, therefore, surgical outcomes. Because of the complexity and location of strictures, especially proximally, drainage has been accompanied by increased morbidity due to sepsis. Another concern is the provocation of an inflammatory and fibrotic reaction around the area of stent placement. Preoperative biliary drainage with self-expanding metallic stent (SEMS) insertion can be achieved via a percutaneous method or through endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. A recently published multicenter randomized Dutch study has shown increased morbidity with preoperative biliary drainage. A Cochrane meta-analysis has also shown a significantly increased complication rate with preoperative drainage. However, few of these studies have used a SEMS, which allows better biliary drainage. No randomized controlled trials have compared preoperative deployment of SEMS versus conventional plastic stents. The outcomes of biliary drainage also depend on the location of the obstruction, namely the difficulty with proximal compared to distal strictures. Pathophysiologically, palliation of jaundice will benefit all patients awaiting surgery. However, preoperative drainage often results in increased morbidity because of procedure-related sepsis. The use of SEMS may change the outcome of preoperative biliary drainage dramatically.

Triple-Tissue Sampling during Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Increases the Overall Diagnostic Sensitivity for Cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There are several methods for obtaining tissue samples to diagnose malignant biliary strictures during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). However, each method has only limited sensitivity. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a combined triple-tissue sampling (TTS) method (on-site bile aspiration cytology, brush cytology, and forceps biopsy). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 168 patients with suspicious malignant biliary strictures who underwent double-tissue sampling (DTS; n=121) or TTS (n=47) via ERCP at our institution from 2004 to 2011. RESULTS: Among the 168 patients reviewed, 117 patients (69.6%) were eventually diagnosed with malignancies. The diagnostic sensitivity for cancer was significantly higher in the TTS group than the DTS group (85.0% vs 64.9%, respectively; p=0.022). Furthermore, the combination of brush cytology and forceps biopsy was superior to the other method combinations in the DTS group. With respect to cancer type (cholangiocarcinoma vs noncholangiocarcinoma), interestingly, the diagnostic sensitivity was higher for cholangiocarcinoma in the TTS group than the DTS group (100% vs 69.4%, respectively; p<0.001) but not for the non-cholangiocarcinoma patients (57.1% vs 57.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: TTS can provide an improved diagnostic accuracy in suspicious malignant biliary strictures, particularly for cholangiocarcinoma.