Clinical Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004.
World J Gastroenterol. May 15, 2004; 10(10): 1504-1507
Published online May 15, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i10.1504
Table 1 Causes of biliary strictures (n = 126)
Benignn%Malignantn%
Choledocholithiasis1222Cholangiocarcinoma3143
Mirizzi syndrome713Pancreatic head CA2332
Postcholecystectomy611Ampullary CA57
Sclerosing cholangitis35.5Gallbladder CA57
Choledochal cyst23.7Metastatic CA45.5
Chronic pancreatitis11.9Hepatocellular CA22.7
Juxtapapillary11.9Lymphoma22.7
diverticulum
Non-specified2240.7
TOTAL54TOTAL72
Table 2 Demographic data of patients with biliary strictures (n = 126)
BenignMalignantP value
Number of patients54 (%)72 (%)
Mean age53 ± 1862.4 ± 11.70.0006
Males25 (46)41 (56.9)0.2255
Females29 (54)31 (43.1)0.2255
Sites of biliary stricture
Proximal27 (50)20 (27.7)0.0107
Middle22 (41)17 (23.6)0.0394
Distal5 (9)35 (48.6)< 0.001
Table 3 Presenting symptoms of patients with biliary stric-tures (n = 126)
Benign n = 54 (%)Malignant n = 72 (%)P value
Jaundice44 (81)61 (84.7)0.5884
RUQ pain27 (50)38 (52.8)0.7561
Weight loss4 (7)11 (15.3)0.1326
Fever3 (5)7 (9.7)0.3066
Anorexia4 (7)7 (9.7)0.5843
Table 4 Laboratory data of patients with biliary strictures (n = 126)
Benign n = 54Malignant n = 72P value
Total bilirubin (μmol/L)142.6 ± 98.4184.61 ± 120.80.0389
Direct bilirubin (μmol/L)102.4 ± 95.3138.10 ± 98.50.0433
Alkaline phosphatase (IU/L)108.5 ± 48.5145.50 ± 57.50.0002
GGT (IU/L)397.0 ± 496.5436.50 ± 325.10.591
ALT (IU/L)52.7 ± 38.366.94 ± 35.60.0339
AST (IU/L)76.5 ± 43.2107.80 ± 45.70.0002
Table 5 Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) test results in predicting malignant biliary strictures
ParameterCut-off valueSensitivity (%)Specificity (%)+LR-LR
Total bilirubin (μmol/L)8498.659.32.420.02
Direct bilirubin (μmol/L)6391.761.12.360.14
Alkaline13659.783.33.580.48
phosphatase (IU/L)
GGT (IU/L)24680.653.71.740.36
ALT (IU/L)6845.881.52.470.66
AST (IU/L)8576.474.12.950.32