Complications of biliary and gastrointestinal stents: MDCT of the cancer patient.

Abstract

The goal of this article is to discuss and show the common complications of biliary and gastrointestinal stents as depicted by MDCT in cancer patients. Major complications include stent misplacement or displacement, bleeding, obstruction, perforation, stent fracture or collapse, and infection. This topic encompasses several relevant issues, including interpretative difficulties, therapeutic decisions, and potential malpractice concerns. Awareness and methodical assessment of stents could allow detection of stenting complications, potentially sparing the patient from associated morbidity and mortality.