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Updated: Aug 19, 2026
Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biliary Drainage: Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Hepaticogastrostomy in Malignant Biliary Obstruction
Published on: March 25, 2022
[Survival of patients with malignant biliary stricture based on endoscopic brushing and on bilirubinemia]
Laura Cotta Ornellas1, Gilda da Cunha Santos, Ermelindo Della Libera
1Departamento de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNESP), São Paulo, SP. lauraornellas@hotmail.com
Background:
Pancreatic cancer and cholangiocarcinoma are the main causes of malignant biliary stricture. Both types of cancers have dismal survival rates, and treatment has little or no effect on prolonging the patients lives. Prognostic definition at initial endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is important to choose the most suitable management.
Aim:
To analyse endoscopic brushing and bilirubinemia importance in determination of the survival of patients with malignant biliary stricture.
Methods:
Patients with biliary strictures diagnosed during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography were submitted to double brushing cytology. Serum samples were taken from all patients for bilirubinemia assay. Patients were followed to determine the final diagnosis and survival rates.
Results:
A total of 50 patients with biliary stricture underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (40 ultimately found to have a final diagnosis of malignant disease). Hyperbilirubinemia or cytology brushing positive for malignancy was related to a shorter survival rate.
Conclusion:
This research data demonstrate the possibility of determining the prognosis of patients with malignant biliary stricture using endoscopic brushing results and bilirubinemia levels.
