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Purpose To evaluate the factors that predict symptomatic dislodgement of a percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) catheter in patients with malignant biliary obstruction. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included 572 patients with malignant biliary obstruction who underwent 733 PTBD catheter insertions between January 2010 and February 2015. The duration of catheter placement, approach site, location of the catheter tip, insertion angle, presence of a closed-loop pigtail, and tube diameter were evaluated. Results During the follow-up period, 224 PTBD catheter dislodgements (30.56%) were observed in 157 patients. Among them, 146 (19.92%) were symptomatic. The mean duration from catheter insertion until dislodgement was 32 days (range: 1–233 days). Male (odds ratio [OR]: 1.636, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.131–2.367, p = 0.009), right-sided approach (OR: 1.567, 95% CI: 1.080–2.274, p = 0.018), increased insertion angle (OR: 1.015, 95% CI: 1.005–1.026, p = 0.005), and incomplete closedloop pigtail formation (OR: 1.672, 95% CI: 1.098–2.545, p = 0.016) were independent factors predictive of symptomatic dislodgement of a PTBD catheter. Conclusion Factors predictive of symptomatic catheter dislodgement included male sex, a right-sided approach, increased insertion angle, and incomplete closed-loop pigtail formation.

The term cholangiocarcinoma (CC) refers to all tumors arising from bile duct epithelium. CCs are characterized by their rarity, difficulty in diagnosis, and overall poor prognosis. This leads to a paucity of data from which to define the natural history and optimal treatment regimens. Currently, surgical resection remains the only potentially curative treatment, but many patients develop recurrence. In addition, a limited number of patients can be candidates for curative resection at diagnosis. Therefore, chemotherapy is inevitable choice for the treatment of advanced CC. Gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP) is considered a standard option for advanced biliary cancer. A randomized phase III trial (ABC-02 trial) showed the superiority of gemcitabine plus cisplatin over gemcitabine alone. Treatment with nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine-cisplatin prolonged median progression-free survival and overall survival vs. those reported for historical controls treated with gemcitabine-cisplatin alone in a phase II study of 60 patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic biliary tract cancer. Recent data of the ABC-06 trial has provided slight evidence for the use of second-line chemotherapy after progression on cisplatin plus gemcitabine combination. Other active regimens, that could be considered in patients who include have disease progression while receiving GP and who retain an adequate performance status, includes capecitabine plus cisplatin, liposomal irinotecan plus leucovorin-modulated fluorouracil and a fluoropyrimidine alone. We herein review recent published data regarding the use of palliative chemotherapies in CC patients, with a particular focus on novel cytotoxic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) are highly aggressive and fatal malignancies. As one of the leading cause of death in Republic of Korea, BTC amoung various malignancies has been one of major public health concerns in the country. Although BTCs, including intrahepatic, perihilar, and distal cholangiocarcinoma, are relatively low-incidence malignancies compared to other cancer, but they represent a major health problem in endemic areas like Korea and Asia contries; moreover, the incidence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is rising globally. Surgery is the only curative treatment. The optimal surgical approach depends on the anatomical site of the primary tumour, and the best outcomes are achieved through management by specialist multidisciplinary team. Unfortunately, most patients present with locally advanced or metastatic disease. Only up to 20% of patients are diagnosed in early-stage, suitable for the curative surgery. Despite the surgery performed with potentially-curative intent, recurrence rates are high, around 60-70% of patients expected to have disease recurrence. In this review, we present an update of the causes, diagnosis, and treatment with a focus on chemotherapy of BTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choledochocele is the least common type of choledochal cyst. Choledochocele has a potential for carcinogenesis, but only a handful of cases with concurrent ampullary carcinoma have been reported. We recently experienced a case of choledochocele with tubulovillous adenoma with focal high-grade dysplasia, which was successfully and completely resected en bloc via endoscopic papillectomy. Prior to endoscopic papillectomy, the endoscopic ultrasonography was able to accurately diagnose the ampullary tumor arising in choledochocele. Herein, we would like to report this case and discuss the potential of malignant transformation and the usefulness of endoscopic ultrasonography in choledochocele. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) is classified into intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (perihilar and distal cholangiocarcinoma) according to the anatomical location of the lesion. The incidence of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma has been relatively stagnant in recent decades, but intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is steadily increasing worldwide, requiring attention. Various classification systems based on gross growth patterns, histological findings, and tumor-derived cells, as well as classification based on existing anatomical location, have been proposed, however, the consensus has not been established yet. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is a carcinoma with an extremely poor prognosis. Complete tumor resection is the only curative treatment. The overall survival rate for 5 years after surgery is 15% to 40%, but recurrence after surgery is observed in 2/3 patients. Therefore, determining the right stage before surgery and selecting an appropriate treatment method through a multidisciplinary approach is a very important process in determining proper treatment. Systemic therapy may be used for locally advanced biliary tract cancer or metastatic biliary tract cancer where surgery is not possible. However, the effectiveness of traditional anticancer chemotherapeutic agents is rather pessimistic, therefore treatments using molecular biological properties have recently been attempted. Finding a way to increase the number of resectable cases through early diagnosis is one of the main challenges. In addition, it is also hoped that the selection of new therapeutic targets and therapeutics will be possible as a result of advanced research on gene expression profiles and mutations in cholangiocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gallbladder cancer is the most common of all the biliary tract cancers. Incidence gradually increases with age, and women are more likely diagnosed with gallbladder cancer. Patients with gallbladder cancer have poor prognosis due to early local and vascular invasion, extensive regional lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis. Gallbladder cancer is also related with shorter median survival duration and shorter survival duration after recurrence in comparison with hilar cholangiocarcinoma. Complete removal with negative margins is considered as the only curative therapy for patients with gallbladder cancer. The optimal resection comprises cholecystectomy with a limited hepatic resection (segments IVB and V) and portal lymphadenectomy to include the tumor with negative margins. The optimum adjuvant therapy for patients with resected gallbladder cancer has not been confirmed. The greater benefit of radiation therapy was achieved in patients with T2 or greater stage tumors and nodepositive disease. Primary options for patients with unresectable or metastatic diseases include: 1) clinical trial; 2) fluoropyrimidine-based or gemcitabine-based chemotherapy; or 3) best supportive care including biliary drainage. In patients with advanced stage and jaundice, biliary drainage should be considered before setting up chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: There is little data on whether plastic stents with a larger diameter are patent for longer than small stents in patients with bile duct cancer. The aim of this study was to compare the stent survival between 7-French (Fr) and 10-Fr plastic stents and evaluate the factors affecting stent survival. Methods: Patients with biliary obstruction due to biliary tract cancer were enrolled at Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine from January 2010 to October 2014. Results: A total of 215 patients (7-Fr:10-Fr = 89:126 patients) were retrospectively enrolled. The primary tumor sites were common bile duct (n = 111), hilar (n = 45), and ampulla of Vater (n = 59). Rates of stent migration and stent obstruction were not different between the two groups. The median duration of stent survival was 3.3 months in the 7-Fr group and 5.9 months in the 10-Fr group (p = 0.543). The diameter of the stent did not have an effect on stent survival (hazard ratio 1.11, 95% confidence interval 0.71-1.73, p = 0.649). Conclusions: 7-Fr and 10-Fr stents have similar rates of stent migration and stent obstruction. The stent survival of 7-Fr was not inferior to 10-Fr stents in the management of biliary tract cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]