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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
BILE DUCT STRICTURE
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
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BILE DUCT STRICTURE
by DEBBA, Apr 03, 2002 12:00AM
Hi,
My questions are in reguards to my father,back in October he suddenly became jaundice. An ultrasound was done which showed sludge in his gall bladder. An ERCP was done, and a strictue of the bile duct was found. He was sent to a surgeon. He told us he thought that it was cancer of the pancreas. A CA19-9 blood test was done and it came back at 300.
He was then sent to a pancreatic specialist and a endoscopic exam was done, with a biopsy in Dec.. The biopsy was negative.
He has felt great all along, no weight loss (he's gained weight), no pain at all, no nausea, none of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer.
In January another ERCP was done to replace the stent in the stricture. For a week following the second ERCP he had some pain when he went to bed that lasted 1/2 hour. He was told it was probably an infection,(but was never treated for an infection). The pain stopped after about 2 weeks and has none since. A CAT scan was done the next day and it was normal.
A second biopsy was done and that to came back negative.
My question(s) are, can an elevated CA19-9 indicate anything other than cancer? Should he have been treated for that infection? It is all very frustrating as every time we see a doctor another story is given to us. Last week he was told by the doctor who is doing another ERCP today to replace his stent, that he has no diagnosis for him. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated
thanks
My questions are in reguards to my father,back in October he suddenly became jaundice. An ultrasound was done which showed sludge in his gall bladder. An ERCP was done, and a strictue of the bile duct was found. He was sent to a surgeon. He told us he thought that it was cancer of the pancreas. A CA19-9 blood test was done and it came back at 300.
He was then sent to a pancreatic specialist and a endoscopic exam was done, with a biopsy in Dec.. The biopsy was negative.
He has felt great all along, no weight loss (he's gained weight), no pain at all, no nausea, none of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer.
In January another ERCP was done to replace the stent in the stricture. For a week following the second ERCP he had some pain when he went to bed that lasted 1/2 hour. He was told it was probably an infection,(but was never treated for an infection). The pain stopped after about 2 weeks and has none since. A CAT scan was done the next day and it was normal.
A second biopsy was done and that to came back negative.
My question(s) are, can an elevated CA19-9 indicate anything other than cancer? Should he have been treated for that infection? It is all very frustrating as every time we see a doctor another story is given to us. Last week he was told by the doctor who is doing another ERCP today to replace his stent, that he has no diagnosis for him. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated
thanks
Just a question. Why so many ERCP's? My doctor is proposing up to 12 of them, or more, doing one every other week for the next 6 months. A stint can only stay in 2 weeks, from what I have been told. Why have they been doing so many on your dad and why so many stints? I have to ask because my doctor won't tell me why he wants to do so many. Of course I have called a halt to them all for the moment until I can figure out and find out why. My dr. is in the top 5% of physicians to perform this surgery in the country. So I suppose I shouldn't question him, but I am.
Thanks
TazLady
They are replacing his once every 10-12 weeks to keep his bile duct open. He had one replaced yesterday, and a biopsy was taken again. I was told there was still no sign of Cancer. The second doctor he sees only performes and endoscopic exam with biopsy. What I was told last night was, that if there is cancer, now is the time to catch it. They want him to see a surgon in Boston for another opinion as to what is going on. Why the CA19-9 is high if there is no cancer.
This makes three biopsy's since December and they have all been begnine, so they want to find out what is going on.