Unilateral Stent Insertion With High-intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation for Hilar Cholangiocarcinoma
Qiang Cao1, Juan-Juan Li2, Tao Feng3
1Department of Radiology.
Purpose:
To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and long-term outcomes of unilateral stent insertion with high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation (HIFUA) in patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA).
Materials And Methods:
From March 2016 to June 2019, consecutive patients presenting with HCCA were treated with single stent insertion or stent with HIFUA. The long-term outcomes of the 2 groups were compared.
Results:
During the study period, 37 patients were included who underwent single stent insertion and 32 patients who underwent stent insertion with HIFUA. Eight (21.6%) patients in the single stent group and 6 (18.8%) in the combined group experienced stent dysfunction (P=0.767). Median stent patency in the single stent and combined groups was 169 and 225 days, respectively (P<0.001). All patients died because of tumor progression. The median poststent overall survival for patients in the single stent and combined groups were 178 and 246 days, respectively (P<0.001).
Conclusion:
HIFUA after unilateral stent insertion can prolong stent patency and survival of patients with inoperable HCCA.
