title: [Preoperative spiral CT cholangiography with 3-dimensional surface reconstruction: the anatomical imaging potentials, limits and application strategies].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluation of CT cholangiography compared to i.v. cholangiography concerning its diagnostic value before laparoscopic cholecystectomy and optimisation of CT cholangiography.
  
  
  METHODS
  I.v. and CT cholangiographies of 54 patients were retrospectively evaluated by two radiologists. The time interval between contrast infusion and CT was correlated with the assessment of CT cholangiographies to detect the optimal timing for CT scanning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CT cholangiography was judged to be generally better than i.v. cholangiography. The optimal time interval for CT scanning is between 30 min and 60 min post contrast infusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT cholangiography should replace the conventional tomograms if i.v. cholangiography does not yield sufficient depiction of the biliary tree. It should be performed within 60 min post contrast infusion. Complete abolishment of i.v. cholangiography is not warranted. This is due to the fact that conventional cholangiography can sufficiently delineate the biliary tree and thereby reduce x-ray exposure and cost compared to initial performance of CT cholangiography.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Radiologische Diagnostik, Medizinische Fakultät, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bücker
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wein
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Truong
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Günther
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002758:Cholangiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D003287:Contrast Media; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007458:Iodipamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; C012386:meglumine iotroxinate; D007458:Iodipamide