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| Effect of external beam radiotherapy on patency of uncovered metallic stents in patients with inoperable bile duct cancer |
| Jun Kyu Lee, Won Kwon Kwack, Sang Hyub Lee, Jin Hee Jung, Jae Hyun Kwon, In Woong Han and Jin Ho Lee |
Goyang and Seoul, Korea
Author Affiliations: Departments of Internal Medicine (Lee JK, Kwack WK and Lee JH), Radiology (Jung JH and Kwon JH) and Surgery (Han IW), Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Goyang 410-773, Korea; Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 110-744, Korea (Lee SH)
Corresponding Author: Sang Hyub Lee, MD, PhD, Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, Korea (Tel/Fax: +82-2-760-8112; Email: gidoctor@ snu.ac.kr) |
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Abstract BACKGROUND: Although biliary decompression with metallic stenting is the preferred treatment for inoperable bile duct cancer (BDC), maintenance of patency is still unsatisfactory. We tried to assess the effectiveness and safety of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for prolonging stent patency in patients having uncovered metallic stents.
METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed 50 patients who received endoscopic stenting, of whom 18 received EBRT (RT group) and 32 did not (non-RT group).
RESULTS: No difference was found in baseline characteristics between the two groups. Although stent patency was longer in the RT group than that in the non-RT group (140.7±51.3 vs 136.4±34.9 days, P=0.94), the difference was not statistically significant. There were a lower rate of stent occlusion (27.8% vs 50.0% of patients, P=0.12) and a longer overall survival (420.1±73.2 vs 269.1±41.7 days, P=0.11) in the RT group than in the non-RT group, and the difference again was not statistically significant. The development of adverse reactions did not differ (55.6% vs 53.1% of patients, P=0.91). There was no serious adverse reaction in both groups (P=0.99).
CONCLUSIONS: EBRT did not significantly improve stent patency in patients with inoperable BDC having uncovered metallic stents. However, EBRT was safe. Future trials with refined protocols for better efficacy are expected.
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2014, Vol. 13 
