Review
Copyright ©2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastrointest Oncol. Mar 15, 2010; 2(3): 146-150
Published online Mar 15, 2010. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v2.i3.146
Interventional radiology in the management of malignant biliary obstruction
Cherian George, Oliver Richard Byass, James Edmund Ian Cast
Cherian George, Oliver Richard Byass, James Edmund Ian Cast, Department of Radiology, Hull and East Yorkshire NHS Trust, Castle Hill Hospital, Castle Road, Cottingham, Kingston-Upon-Hull, HU16 5JQ, United Kingdom
Author contributions: George C did the literature search; Byass OR and Cast JEI contributed images for the paper. All the authors participated in the design and writing of the manuscript.
Correspondence to: James Edmund Ian Cast, BSc, MBBS, FRCR, Department of Radiology, Hull and East Yorkshire NHS Trust, Castle Hill Hospital, Castle Road, Cottingham, Kingston-Upon-Hull, HU16 5JQ, United Kingdom. James.Cast@hey.nhs.uk
Telephone: +44-1482-623205 Fax: +44-1482-624018
Received: June 9, 2009
Revised: November 27, 2009
Accepted: December 4, 2009
Published online: March 15, 2010
Abstract

Malignant biliary obstruction is commonly due to pancreatic carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma and metastatic disease which are often inoperable at presentation and carry a poor prognosis. Percutaneous biliary drainage and stenting provides a safe and effective method of palliation in such patients, thereby improving their quality of life. It may also be an adjunct to surgical management by improving hepatic and, indirectly, renal function before resection of the tumor.

Keywords: Biliary tract, Biliary tract neoplasms, Jaundice, Cholangiography, Carcinoma, Pancreatic ductal