Intravenous cholangiography with helical CT: comparison with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether helical computed tomography (CT) performed during intravenous cholangiography can provide useful images of the biliary tree and to compare this technique with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC).


METHODS
Eighteen adult patients with clinically suspected biliary disease who were referred for ERC were first examined with helical CT cholangiography performed 75 minutes after intravenous infusion of 100 mL of 10.3% iodipamide meglumine.


RESULTS
Helical CT cholangiography revealed good opacification of the biliary tree in 13 of 14 patients with serum bilirubin levels less than 2 mg/dL (34 mumol/L) and poor opacification in three of four patients with levels greater than 2 mg/dL. In six of seven patients with choledocholithiasis, the diagnosis was made by means of helical CT cholangiography.


CONCLUSIONS
Helical CT cholangiography may be a clinically useful method for visualization of the biliary tree in some patients with suspected biliary disease with normal bilirubin levels and in patients in whom attempts at ERC fail.
Stockberger
S M
SM
Department of Radiology, Indiana University Hospital and School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202-5253.
Wass
J L
JL
Sherman
S
S
Lehman
G A
GA
Kopecky
K K
KK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002758:Cholangiography / Q000379:methods; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007458:Iodipamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D007458:Iodipamide; C006753:meglumine iodipamide