Catheter tract seeding after percutaneous biliary drainage for pancreatic cancer

Percutaneous biliary drainage is frequently used to decompress obstruction of a malignant origin. The development of a tumor along the drainage tract is rare and has been reported only where the catheter has transgressed the obstruction. The authors report seeding of a percutaneous drainage tract after short-term decompression of obstructive jaundice in a patient who underwent curative resection for pancreatic carcinoma and in whom the catheter was not passed through the tumor. Exfoliated cancer cells in the bile duct are believed to be responsible. Caution is suggested in the use of percutaneous biliary drainage for temporary drainage in the patient who is a candidate for curative resection.