[Endoscopic and radiological interventional therapy of benign and malignant bile duct stenoses]

Since the development of therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, two non-interventional therapeutic options are available for the treatment of benign and malignant bile duct stenosis. Stenosis of different aetiology, which can be classified as benign after completion of the diagnoses, can be treated with good long-term dilation success in 50 to 90 % of all cases. The aim of palliative drainage therapy of malignant bile duct stenosis is the improvement of quality of life by removing the jaundice and the pruritus. In addition, the development of cholangitis as well as impending deterioration of the hepatic function can be prevented. By photodynamic therapy it seems possible to achieve an improvement of quality of life and of the prognosis in cholangiocarcinoma.