Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of computer tomography (CT) combined with serum secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP4) and soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) for pancreatitis after biliary duct stent implantation in patients with malignant biliary obstruction (MBO).

Methods A total of 243 MBO patients with biliary duct stent implantation were selected as research objects, and they were divided into pancreatitis group with 105 cases and no pancreatitis group with 138 cases according to condition of postoperative complicated pancreatitis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum levels of SFRP4 and sST2, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the four table method were used to analyze the diagnostic values of serum SFRP4 or sST2 alone and their combination with CT for postoperative complicated pancreatitis.

Results The serum levels of SFRP4 and sST2 in the pancreatitis group were significantly higher than those in the no pancreatitis group (P < 0.05); the values of area under the curve (AUC) of serum SFRP4 and sST2 levels for diagnosis of postoperative complicated pancreatitis were 0.694 and 0.667, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of CT for diagnosis of postoperative complicated pancreatitis were 76.19% and 60.87%, respectively; the sensitivity and accuracy of CT combined with serum SFRP4 and sST2 levels in diagnosing postoperative complicated pancreatitis were 98.10% and 76.54%, respectively; the sensitivity and accuracy of the combination of the three indexes for diagnosis were significantly higher than those of CT, SFRP4 or sST2 alone (P < 0.05).

Conclusion MBO patients with pancreatitis after biliary duct stent implantation have higher serum levels of SFRP4 and sST2, and CT combined with serum levels of SFRP4 and sST2 has high diagnostic value for postoperative complicated pancreatitis.