Published online May 28, 2016. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v8.i5.518
Peer-review started: September 9, 2015
First decision: October 27, 2015
Revised: January 25, 2016
Accepted: March 7, 2016
Article in press: March 9, 2016
Published online: May 28, 2016
Processing time: 253 Days and 0.2 Hours
Malignant biliary obstruction is commonly caused by gall bladder carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma and metastatic nodes. Percutaneous interventions play an important role in managing these patients. Biliary drainage, which forms the major bulk of radiological interventions, can be palliative in inoperable patients or pre-operative to improve liver function prior to surgery. Other interventions include cholecystostomy and radiofrequency ablation. We present here the indications, contraindications, technique and complications of the radiological interventions performed in patients with malignant biliary obstruction.
Core tip: Malignant biliary obstruction is a common cause of jaundice and frequently needs percutaneous radiological interventions as a part of pre-operative or palliative treatment. Various techniques are available for biliary drainage and tumor palliation. The indications, technique, advantages and complications of each of the procedures are presented in this review.