In the years 1987--1989 endoscopic biliary tree stenting was performed in 64 patients. The straight prostheses type Amsterdam 10 or 12 F and double pigtail prostheses were applied. In 36 cases the indication for stenting was malignant stricture of the biliary tree (group I) caused by carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater (n = 12), carcinoma of the head of the pancreas (n = 15), common bile duct and bifurcation tumor (n = 5) and gallbladder cancer (n = 4). In 28 cases the indications were common bile duct stones (group II) where stone size made endoscopic removal impossible and surgery was contraindicated. Normalisation or improvement of elevated serum bilirubin level was observed quite quickly after stenting (it decreased to about 50% of initial value after 7 days). Mean duration of prosthesis patency in group I patients who avoided surgical treatment was 144 days and mean survival time was 220 days. In group II patients mean duration of prosthesis patency was 183 days. Endoscopic biliary tree stenting is an advantageous alternative to surgical palliative++ treatment of obstructive neoplastic jaundice and constitutes an efficient method of treating common bile duct stones in poor operative risk patients.