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Population-based study of cancer risk and relative survival following sphincterotomy for stones in the common bile
B M Karlson1, A Ekbom, D Arvidsson
1Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Background:
Endoscopic sphincterotomy was introduced in 1974 as a procedure for removing stones in the common bile duct. To assess the long-term risk of cancer and relative survival, all patients who underwent this procedure at six different hospitals between 1977 and 1985 were identified.
Methods:
A total of 992 patients was identified and they were followed by linkage to the Swedish Death Registry and the Swedish Cancer Registry.
Results:
At 1 year or more after sphincterotomy there was no increased risk of cancer in the liver, gallbladder, bile duct or pancreas (standardized incidence ratio 0.80, 95 per cent confidence interval 0.3-1.9). Relative survival was lowered slightly in the first year after sphincterotomy, but did not differ from that of the background population thereafter.
Conclusion:
Endoscopic sphincterotomy for stones in the common bile duct does not appear to affect the risk of cancer in the pancreas, liver or bile ducts, nor does it affect long-term survival.