Long term treatment of biliary stricture due to chronic pancreatitis with a metallic stent.

The exact role of endoprostheses in the management of chronic pancreatitis-associated biliary strictures has not yet been clearly established. We report an unusual case of a patient with this condition who was treated for an unexpectedly long term with a self-expanding metallic endoprosthesis. There has only been one previous report of the use of metallic stents in this situation. It appears that metallic endoprostheses may have a role to play in the management of selected patients who have chronic pancreatitis-associated bile duct stricture.