Practical review for diagnosis and clinical management of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma

Table 2 Main advantages of two the two techniques available to obtain bile duct drainage

ERCP	PTC
Internal stent: Less patient discomfort[5]	External drainage: Increased patient discomfort[5]
Reduced risk of seeding[73]	Higher expertise needed[108]
Higher rate of bacterial contamination/cholangitis[76]	Higher rate of hemorrhage[76]
“One shot” microbiological examination	Never cross the malignant bile duct stenosis[5]
Removed during surgery	Repeated cholangiography and microbiological samples
	Useful during and after surgery

ERCP: Endoscopic retrograde pacreatoduodenoscopy; PTC: Percutaneous transhepatic colangiography.