Biliary stricture as a possible late complication of radiation therapy

Eleven years after resection of hilar bile duct cancer with postoperative radiation therapy, we experienced a case in which biliary stricture developed. The segment of stricture was proximal to the anastomosis, the same area where irradiation had been performed. There was no sign of recurrence of the bile duct cancer in ultrasonography, computed tomography, and biopsy of the stenotic region. It was suspected that the stricture was a late complication of the postoperative radiation therapy.