Percutaneous transhepatic drainage or endoscopically placed stents, or surgical bypass

Relief of biliary obstruction is warranted when symptoms such as pruritus and hepatic dysfunction outweigh other symptoms of the cancer. The preferred approach is percutaneous transhepatic drainage or endoscopically placed stents.[1] Surgical bypass may be appropriate when these approaches are infeasible.

Palliative radiation therapy after biliary drainage may be beneficial. Patients may be candidates for inclusion in clinical trials that explore ways to improve the effects of radiation therapy with various radiosensitizers, such as hyperthermia, radiosensitizer drugs, or cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents.