Short distal CBD stricture – imaging and biopsy negative for malignancy. How reassuring is this?
I have a short distal CBD stricture that has required ERCP treatment/stenting.
My MRCP showed a short narrowing/stricture but no visible mass and no bile-duct wall thickening. The pancreas and pancreatic duct were also normal.
During ERCP, the stricture was visualized and treated, but no mass was seen. Biopsy from the stricture showed chronic nonspecific lymphoplasmacytic inflammation, with no atypia, dysplasia or malignancy.
I have had biliary obstruction/inflammation previously, so my doctors think this may be a benign inflammatory/scarring stricture.
My question is: How reassuring would you consider the combination of negative MRCP, no mass on ERCP, and negative biopsy? Can cholangiocarcinoma still present as a short stricture with no visible mass, and what additional tests/follow-up would normally be considered?
I'm particularly interested in experiences from people who have had benign CBD strictures or cholangiocarcinoma—not looking for a diagnosis, just trying to understand how these findings are generally interpreted.