Comparison of intraluminal brachytherapy combined with and without stent placement for treatment of obstructive jaundice induced by tumor thrombus

PURPOSE To compare the safety and efficacy of intraluminal brachytherapy with iodine-125 (125I) seed strand implantation combined with and without stent placement to treat patients with obstructive jaundice induced by tumor thrombus. METHODS Between January 2018 and June 2022, 42 patients with malignant obstructive jaundice (MOJ) induced by tumor thrombus were included. 20 patients received 125I seed strand implantation and stent placement (group A). The remaining 22 patients, implanted 125I seed strands only, served as control (group B). The two groups’ overall survival and jaundice-free survival were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. RESULTS During the follow-up period, the mean survival time of group A was 38.0 ± 4.1 months (95%CI, 30.0–46.1 months), while that of group B was 25.1 ± 2.8 (95% CI, 19.5–30.6 months) (p = 0.406). The mean survival rates of 12 months for all patients, group A, and group B was 66.7%, 65%, and 68%, respectively. The mean jaundice-free survival of group A and group B were 34.0 ± 3.6 months (95% CI, 27.9–41.2months) and 22.9 ± 2.7 months (95%CI, 17.5–28.2months) (p = 0.254), respectively. Two PTBD drainage tube infection cases occurred in group A and group B separately. CONCLUSIONS 125I intraluminal brachytherapy is an effective and safe therapy for treating patients with obstructive jaundice induced by tumor thrombus.