Radiotherapy of high bile duct carcinoma using intra-catheter iridium 192 wire.

The authors developed an original procedure of endo-curietherapy of high bile duct carcinoma. An iridium 192 wire is inserted into either a percutaneous transhepatic catheter or a surgically implanted external diversion catheter. The delivered dose varies between 10 and 60 Gy at 1 cm from the wire. Four of the seven patients analyzed also received external irradiation. There were no systemic or local complications. All patients experienced symptomatic relief and four are alive with no evidence of disease. This well-tolerated procedure permits symptomatic palliation without excessive side effects for the patient. In some cases, a curative effect can be expected.