ENDOSCOPIC DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF MALIGNANT BILIARY STRICTURES - REVIEW OF 505 PATIENTS

The role of ERCP and endoscopic drainage in the diagnosis and treatmen t of patients with malignant biliary obstruction is well established. Endoscopic drainage is an effective therapy for palliation of malignan t obstructive jaundice and does not preclude definitive treatment in a ppropriate candidate. We report our experience, in a retrospective rev iew, of 505 patients with malignant biliary obstruction. In this serie s, endoscopic biliary drainage is shown to be safe and effective manag ement for these patients. Relief of obstruction was obtained in a larg e majority of patients with a low, procedure related, morbidity and mo rtality. We conclude that ERCP, to diagnose and localize obstructive l esions, followed by endoscopic biliary drainage can be strongly consid ered in all patients with suspected malignant obstructive jaundice.