Percutaneous biliary stent with intraluminal brachytherapy versus palliative surgery in the management of extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Abstract

To compare the efficacy and outcomes of self-expandable metallic stent combined with catheter-loaded iodine-125 seeds (SEMS-CL-125I) brachytherapy versus conventional palliative surgery (PS) in advanced extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC). The retrospective analysis consisted of 101 advanced EHCC patients who received SEMS-CL-125I (n = 67) or underwent PS (n = 34). The clinical characteristics, postoperative complications and overall survival (OS) were compared between the two groups. Serum levels of bilirubin, transaminase, and albumin (ALB) were significantly improved at 1month, 3months, and 6months postoperatively in both groups (all P < 0.05). At 1month after operation, the level of ALB in SEMS-CL-125I group was significantly higher than that in PS group (39.07 ± 3.83 vs. 36.60 ± 5.58g/L, P = 0.015). No statistically significant difference was found in postoperative overall complications between the two groups (P = 0.052). Length of hospital stay was significantly shorter (P < 0.001), hospital costs were significantly less (P < 0.001), and OS was significantly better (P = 0.029) in SEMS-CL-125I group compared to PS group. Multivariate analysis further identified PS (HR = 2.90, 95% CI 1.71-4.93, P < 0.001) and higher level of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (HR = 2.67, 95% CI 1.36-3.79, P = 0.002) as independent predictors of worse OS. SEMS-CL-125I significantly improves outcomes compared with PS and could be a safe and effective treatment for advanced EHCC.