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PubMed · 9530894

Biliary tree malignancies.

B A Erickson·S Nag
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Abstract

Radiation therapy is used as definitive treatment for unresectable bile duct tumors, or as adjuvant therapy after resection. External beam irradiation of 45-50 Gy is generally given whenever feasible. Intraluminal brachy-therapy is a useful technique to deliver higher doses of radiation to the tumor while respecting the tolerance of the surrounding normal tissues. Brachytherapy can be given at a high dose rate or low dose rate via an in-dwelling biliary drainage catheter to boost external beam doses. Brachytherapy alone is reserved for palliative therapy. Techniques should be implemented with care to make them not only effective but safe. The long-term efficacy and morbidity of this mode of radiation should be studied further. Only large prospective trials can lead to resolution of some of the questions yet unsolved in treatment of these challenging malignancies.

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Bile Duct NeoplasmsBile Ducts, ExtrahepaticBrachytherapyCatheterizationDose Fractionation, RadiationEndoscopy, Digestive SystemHumansMorbidityPalliative CareRadiotherapy DosageSurvival RateJournal ArticleReview

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B A Erickson, S Nag. 1998. Biliary tree malignancies.. https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1096-9098(199803)67%3A3%3C203%3A%3Aaid-jso12%3E3.0.co%3B2-2

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Bile Duct Neoplasms↗
PubMed1999

Risk factors for biliary tract cancers.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known regarding risk factors for biliary tract cancer, i.e., gallbladder carcinoma and extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma. This is the first case-control study conducted in the U.S. regarding risk factors for these cancers. METHODS: In this hospital-based case-control study, we reviewed the medical records of 69 patients with primary biliary tract cancer who were admitted to Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center for surgery between January 1, 1980, and April 4, 1994, and of 138 controls, consisting of patients admitted for surgery for benign conditions. RESULTS: We found a significant association between cholelithiasis and biliary tract cancers (odds ratio, 19.5; 95% confidence interval, 6.4-59.4). Risk factors associated with gallbladder cancer included female gender, age, cigarette smoking, and postmenopausal status in women. Risk factors associated with extrahepatic bile duct cancer included history of cholecystectomy and hysterectomy in women. CONCLUSION: The risk factors for biliary tract cancers that have been identified in our study delineate a high-risk population, which in the future may be targeted for preventive measures.

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