Biliary intraductal metastasis from advanced gastric cancer: radiologic and histologic characteristics, and clinical outcomes of percutaneous metallic stent placement.

Abstract

To investigate the radiologic and histological characteristics of biliary intraductal metastasis of advanced gastric cancer and the clinical outcomes of percutaneous, metallic stent placement. We retrospectively assessed 24 patients with obstructive jaundice related to biliary intraductal metastasis of gastric cancers who underwent PTBD and subsequent metallic stent placement between 2003 and 2012. Intraductal metastases appeared as uniform, concentric, linear (n = 17) or band-like (n = 7), enhanced wall thickening on CT, and 20 patients (83.3 %) had cystic ductal lesions. On pathology specimens, malignant cells scattered in the submucosal layer caused a desmoplastic reaction. The technical and clinical success rate of stent placement was achieved in all 24 patients. The median survival time was 203 days. Stent occlusion was observed in four patients with 49-278 days following stent placement. The median stent patency time was 156 days. The radiologic and histological characteristics of biliary intraductal metastasis of advanced gastric cancer consist of uniform, linear or band-like, enhanced biliary wall thickening and malignant cells scattered in the submucosal layer, together with the desmoplastic reaction without any disruption of the epithelial layer. Uncovered metallic stent placement was also a safe and effective method of palliative treatment in these patients. • The CT findings of intraductal metastasis were linear/band-like, enhanced biliary wall thickening. • The histological finding was malignant cells scattered in the submucosal layer. • It showed a desmoplastic reaction without any disruption of the epithelial layer. • Uncovered metallic stent placement was a safe and effective palliative treatment.