A case of unresectable hilar cholangiocarcinoma treated with an insertion of biliary stent and herbal medicine obtaining a good quality of life

An advanced hilar cholangiocarcinoma was poor in prognosis and required a biliary duct drainage tube insertion to prevent jaundice. An endoscopically placed metallic biliary stent is efficient for improving QOL of patients with the disease. This case was of a 65-year-old man. He was admitted to our hospital with obstructive jaundice. Hilar cholangiocarcinoma was diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) and MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). Abdominal angiography revealed an unresectable cholangiocarcinoma through the portal vein obstruction and stenosis of the left hepatic artery for tumor invasion. After a second opinion and informed consent, he was inserted a biliary stent (non-covered metallic stent) under an endoscopy. The jaundice was improved further and other laboratory data showed normal results except for tumor markers. After the patient left the hospital, he came to our hospital as an outpatient basis for observation. He was prescribed herbal medicine from the other hospital. Now after ten months since the biliary stent insertion, he has been free from symptoms with normal laboratory data.