Objective To discuss the value of biliary stent in treatment of malignant biliary obstruction with different pathways of bile duct stent insertion. Methods Fourty-two cases of malignant biliary obstruction whose biliary stent insertions were through operation (n=18), PTCD (n=17) and ERCP (n=7) respectively were reviewed retrospectively. Results The bile duct stents were successfully inserted in all patients through the malignant obstruction and achieved internal biliary drainage. Compared with the level of the bilirubin before operation, it decreased about 100 μmol/L one week after the stent insertion in all patients. Compared with the levels of glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and glutamyltranspeptidase before operation, they decreased 1 week after the stent insertion （Plt;0.05). The median survival time was 22 weeks. The average survival time was (32.89±33.87) weeks. Two patients died in hospital after PTCD, and the mortality was 4.76%. Complications included 8 cases of cholangitis, 3 cases of bile duct hemorrhage and 2 cases of hepatic failure. Conclusion The bile duct stent insertions through operation, PTCD and ERCP are all effective in relieving the bile duct construction with malignant biliary obstruction. Each method should be chosed according to the systemic and local condition for every patient so as to improve the safety and efficiency, and to decrease the occurrence of complications.