title: Comparison of ultrasound and E.R.C.P. in the detection of the cause of obstructive biliary disease.
abstract: The value of ultrasound (US) in determining the cause and site of biliary obstruction was critically evaluated and compared to endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERCP), in a prospective study performed on 120 consecutive patients. The final diagnosis was based on surgery, endoscopic retrograde cholangiography or a combination of other examinations. Ultrasound successfully differentiated obstructive from non obstructive jaundice in 96% of the patients, comparing well with the results ERCP. US correctly defined the cause of obstruction in 71% of the patients with ductal stones, in 90% of the patients with tumoural bile duct obstruction, but only in 59% of the patients with chronic pancreatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospitals K. U. Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rigauts
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marchal
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van Steenbergen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ponette
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002758:Cholangiography; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography