RESUMEN
Objective To study the efficacy and safety of endobiliary radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with stent placement in treatment of unresectable extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC).Methods The patients with unresectable EHCC in Hangzhou First People's Hospital between October 2013 and January 2015 were enrolled in a prospective, randomized, single-blind cohort study, and were assigned randomly into two groups: RFA+stent group and stent-only group.The jaundice fade time, stent patency period, overall survival rate, and postoperative adverse events were analyzed between two groups.Results Among 59 patients with non-resectable EHCC, 28 were divided into RFA+stent group, and 31 were in stent-only group.There was no statistical difference in preoperative serum total bilirubin between the two groups.Mean serum bilirubin decrease time was significantly lower in the RFA+stent group than that in the stent-only group[17.9 d(7-22 d) VS 29.9 d(10-55 d),P=0.03].The biliary patency period in RFA+stent group was significantly longer than that of stent-only group (8.9 months VS 4.5 months, P=0.02).The mean survival time in RFA+stent group was significantly longer than that of stent-only group[13.3 months(6.2-16.5 months) VS 8.6 months(4.5-11.7 months), P=0.000).Incidence of postoperative adverse events showed no statistical difference between the two groups(P=0.727).Conclusion RFA with stent placement is effective and safe as a palliative measure in the treatment of non-resectable EHCC, and it can significantly shorten the jaundice fade time, prolong the biliary patency period and overall survival, while without increase of the incidence of adverse events.