Transhepatic cholangiography: the radiological method of choice in suspected obstructive jaundice.
Twenty-five patients with severe jaundice were studied prospectively with computed tomography (CT), gray-scale ultrasonography (USG), and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (THC). Nineteen had obstruction of the biliary tree. The differentiation of obstructive from hepatic parenchymal causes of jaundice was 72% accurate with USG, 92% with CT, and 96% with THC. Biochemical studies when used alone were 72% accurate. Although the precise location of an obstructing lesion was determined in 12/19 cases by CT and 9/19 by USG, the cause was established in only 5 by CT and 7 by USG. THC was 100% successful in establishing both cause and site of obstructive jaundice without significant complications.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002758:Cholangiography / Q000379:methods*; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D042882:Gallstones / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography