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Radiological palliation of malignant colonic obstruction
R I Aviv1, G Shyamalan, A Watkinson
1Departments of Radiology, Royal Free Hospital, London, U.K.
Purpose:
To evaluate the efficacy of colorectal stenting in the palliation of irresectable malignant colonic obstruction.
Materials And Methods:
Fifteen patients underwent colorectal stenting for irresectable colonic malignancy. Sixteen stents were placed successfully in 13 patients. Two stent insertions, one a proximal transverse colon lesion, were unsuccessful. Twelve patients (80%) had clinical or radiological features of imminent obstruction. Three patients were completely obstructed. Eighty-six percent of lesions were within the rectosigmoid colon.
Results:
Technical and clinical success was 88%. Early, minor complications occurred in two patients (13%). Late complications included migration (13%) and ingrowth (19%). The median survival was 2 months (0.5-12 months).
Conclusion:
Stenting should be considered as definitive treatment in the context of an inoperable malignant stricture of the colon. It has low morbidity and a high technical and clinical success rate and avoids emergency defunctioning surgery in high-risk patients.