Bile duct stone caused by 25-year placement of metal stent: successful diagnosis and extraction using peroral cholangioscopy

Bile duct stones can form when a foreign body (e. g. metal stent) is placed for a long period. We report the case of a bile duct stone caused by a metal stent that had been in place for 25 years.

A 61-year-old woman underwent detailed tests for obstructive jaundice at our hospital. Approximately 25 years previously, she had undergone cholecystectomy for a gallbladder stone at a different hospital, followed by percutaneous placement of a metal stent (Gianturco-Rosch biliary Z-stent; Cook Medical, Inc., Bloomington, Indiana, USA) for postoperative bile duct stenosis [1]. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a mass lesion inside the metal stent; this was considered to be the cause of the jaundice ([Fig. 1]). Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was then conducted for additional tests and treatment.

Fig. 1 Computed tomography findings. A mass lesion was found inside the metal stent (pink arrow).

Cholangiography showed a filling defect inside the metal stent ([Fig. 2]). Next, to distinguish between a tumor and bile duct stone, peroral cholangioscopy (POCS) was conducted using SpyGlass DS (Boston Scientific Corp., Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA) ([Video 1]) [2] [3] [4]. A bile duct stone was found to occupy the metal stent, and electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) was conducted using a 1.9-Fr EHL probe, followed by removal of the stone using a balloon catheter ([Fig. 3]). Removal of the stone resulted in resolution of the stenosis inside the metal stent ([Fig. 4]), and the patient recovered from jaundice; hence, this patient is now observed on an outpatient basis.

Fig. 2 Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography findings. Cholangiography showed a filling defect inside the metal stent (pink arrow).

Video 1 A bile duct stone occupying the metal stent was fragmented using a 1.9-Fr electrohydraulic lithotripsy probe. Fragments were removed using a balloon catheter, resulting in resolution of the stenosis inside the metal stent.

Fig. 3 Peroral cholangioscopy findings. a A bile duct stone was found to occupy the metal stent. b Electrohydraulic lithotripsy was carried out.

Fig. 4 Peroral cholangioscopy findings. Removal of the stone resulted in resolution of the stenosis inside the metal stent.

This report of obstructive jaundice caused by a bile duct stone in a metal stent that had been in place for 25 years, illustrates how POCS can be used to identify the cause of jaundice and aid removal of the stone using EHL. It was possible to visualize the effects of long term metal stent placement directly using POCS. 

Endoscopy_UCTN_Code_CPL_1AK_2AH

Competing interests

None

• References

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