Can bile duct stricture be cured?
Apr 10, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Jin Zhongkui
Introduction
Whether biliary stricture can be cured depends on its underlying cause. If it is caused by iatrogenic bile duct injury, surgical treatment as directed by a physician may lead to a cure. If the stricture results from a benign tumor, normal function usually gradually returns after surgical removal. However, if it is caused by a malignant tumor, biliary stricture often recurs after surgery and generally cannot be cured.
In general, whether bile duct stricture can be cured depends on its underlying cause. If it is caused by iatrogenic bile duct injury or benign tumors, it is usually curable; otherwise, it may not be curable. The specific analysis is as follows:
1. Curable
If the stricture results from iatrogenic bile duct injury—such as damage to the bile duct during cholecystectomy or other gallbladder surgeries—it can generally be treated surgically under medical guidance. The narrowed segment of the bile duct is removed and a new biliary-enteric anastomosis is performed, achieving a cure. If caused by benign tumors, normal function typically returns gradually after surgical removal.
2. Incurable
If the stricture is due to malignant tumors—for example, pancreatic head cancer or gallbladder cancer metastasizing to lymph nodes near the bile duct, causing lymph node enlargement and subsequent compression of the bile duct—bile duct stricture often recurs even after surgery. In such cases, a complete cure is usually not possible, and treatment should focus on controlling disease progression as advised by physicians.
Patients are advised to seek timely medical evaluation, confirm the diagnosis, and choose appropriate treatment options under a doctor's guidance.
