Fig. 1Stent deployment under fluoroscopic guidance. (A) Cholangiography of a normal canine bile duct. (B) Fluoroscopic image of a guidewire placed inside the bile duct. (C) The stent is placed above the papilla. (D) The stent is in place after withdrawal of the delivery catheter and guidewire.
Fig. 2Four levels of histopathological examination. Cross section of an unstented (normal) bile duct, and the proximal, middle, and distal portions of the stented bile duct.
Fig. 3Macroscopic and microscopic findings of the stented bile duct (dog 6). (A) Macroscopic examination of the stented bile duct, showing superficial inflammation. (B) Chronic inflammation is confined to the mucosa (H&E stain, ×40). (C) There are a few neutrophils in the lamina propria (H&E stain, ×200). (D) Fibrosis extends to the muscle layer, but smooth muscle bundles are intact (red spindle cells; Masson trichrome stain, ×100).
Fig. 4Macroscopic and microscopic findings of the stented bile duct with severe inflammatory changes (dog 4). (A) A fully covered self-expandable metal stent became embedded in the bile duct owing to severe epithelial hyperplasia. (B) A low-magnification view reveals transmural inflammation and fibrosis (H&E stain, ×40). (C) Suppurative inflammation with many neutrophils is visible (H&E stain, ×200). (D) Masson trichome stain highlights extensive fibrosis (blue areas; H&E stain, ×100).
Fig. 5Macroscopic images of de novo stricture after removal of a fully covered self-expandable metal stent (FCSEMS). (A) De novo stricture occurred at both the proximal (arrows) and distal (arrowheads) portions of the bile ducts after placement of an FCSEMS for 9 months. (B) De novo stricture occurred at the distal portion of the bile duct after placement of an FCSEMS for 6 months (arrows).
Fig. 6The results of microscopic examinations. (A) Microscopic examination of the normal (unstented) bile duct. (B) Microscopic examination of the proximal portion of the stented bile duct. (C) Microscopic examination of the middle portion of the stented bile duct. (D) Microscopic examination of the distal portion of the stented bile duct.
Table 1The Scoring System Used to Determine the Severity of Inflammation of the Stented Bile Duct
Table 2The Results of Microscopic Examination of the Stented Bile Duct