Interventional radiologic approach to hilar malignant biliary obstruction

ABSTRACT

Biliary obstruction due to advanced hepatic hilar malignancy is difficult to treat, both surgically and non-surgically, using endoscopic or percutaneous drainage. Since only about 10% to 20% of patients are eligible for resection of hepatic hilar malignancies, most patients receive palliative rather than curative treatment. Percutaneous palliation of advanced hepatic hilar malignancies can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Percutaneous bilateral metallic stent placement may be a reasonable option in patients with hilar malignancies to preserve the functional volume of the liver during the course of chemotherapy and to prevent procedure-related cholangitis of a contaminated undrained lobe. Percutaneous bilateral stent-in-stent placement using wide-mesh or open-cell design stents is a feasible and effective method of achieving bilateral drainage. Moreover, unilateral covered or uncovered metallic stent placement in the lobe with patent portal vein is safe and effective method for palliative treatment in patients with contralateral portal vein occlusion caused by hilar malignancies, obviating the need for bilateral stent placement in these patients.