title: [Current indications for percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC)].
abstract: Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) showed its widest diffusion during the late '70s while since the early '80s it was gradually replaced by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Anyway, a well definite role for PTC still exists. PTC was performed in 60 of 131 cases of obstructive disease of the biliary tree: the indications are illustrated in detail. The statistical indicators utilized to choose this examination were: echographic determination of the diameter of the biliary tree, bilirubinemia, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and serum gamma-GT. Data collected during this study showed that biliary dilation has a significant correlation to serum levels of ALP, while bilirubin has not. Biliary dilation is currently well established by echography: in some instances, however, biliary obstruction is earlier suggested by elevated serum enzymes of biliary stasis, while it is clearly demonstrated that biliary dilation is a precursor of jaundice, better defined as an expression of biliary hypertension. Based on these observations and on the review of the literature, the Authors believe that PTC still remains a second choice examination as compared to ERCP: when the latter be not effective for diagnosis or decompression of the biliary tree, then PTC can be resolutive.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ghilardi
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bortolani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sgroi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pecis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stringhi
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002758:Cholangiography; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D003137:Common Bile Duct Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014463:Ultrasonography; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D001663:Bilirubin
vernacular_title: Indicazioni attuali alla colangiografia percutanea transepatica (PTC).