[Clinical experience of expandable metallic stent placement for malignant biliary obstruction]

Expandable metallic stents of modified Gianturco design were used in nine cases of malignant biliary obstruction. Stents were placed through a percutaneous transhepatic approach without any severe complications. Initial patency was obtained seven of nine patients. Of these seven patients, recurrent jaundice was observed in three within four weeks. One patient had recurrent stenosis after four months due to ingrowth of the tumor. Although the expandable metallic stent offers several theoretical advantages over currently available stents, a disadvantage is that tumors may grow through the spaces between the legs of the wire or grow over the stent. We found that multi-modal treatment combined with radiation therapy was indispensable to maintain the patency of the stent in malignant biliary obstruction.