Covered Metal Stents versus Uncovered Metal Stents for the Treatment of Jaundice due to Pancreatic Cancer, Cholangiocarcinoma, or Other Metastatic Malignancies
This trial studies how well covered metal stents versus uncovered metal stents work in treating patients with jaundice due to pancreatic cancer, cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct), or other malignancies that have spread to other places in the body (metastatic). Jaundice can make the skin and urine appear very yellow and cause itching throughout the body. Pancreatic cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, or other metastatic malignancies can cause jaundice by blocking the bile duct. The bile duct is a tube-like structure that drains the liver. To maintain an opening in the bile duct, a stent is placed. Uncovered self-expanding metal biliary stents have a bare metal scaffold that the tissue tends to grow into and thus blocks the stent from draining, while covered self-expanding metal biliary stents have a polyurethane coating that may prevent the tissue from growing into the stent and thus blocking the stent. It is not yet known whether covered or uncovered metal stents may work better in treating patients with jaundice.