Intraductal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of Mirizzi syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Common bile duct (CBD) compression can be caused by stones in the cystic duct (Mirizzi syndrome) which can be difficult to diagnose even with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Conventional imaging often gives insufficient information and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and magnetic resonance imaging may improve diagnostic accuracy, but often the final diagnosis is made during exploratory surgery.


METHODS
All patients undergoing ERCP during a 3-year period were prospectively analyzed if they fulfilled the inclusion criteria: gallbladder in situ; obstructive jaundice with CBD stenosis, demonstrated at endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC), but unexplained at ultrasonography; and inability to demonstrate the cystic duct during ERC. Intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) was carried out over a guide wire using a 20-MHz probe. Prior to ERCP, patients were evaluated with abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT), as well as by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) or EUS in some.


RESULTS
74 patients out of 2089 undergoing ERCP fulfilled the entry criteria. Final diagnoses, from surgical exploration (n = 41), cytology (n = 21), or endoscopic extraction of stones from the cystic duct (n = 12), were Mirizzi syndrome (type I) in 30 patients and other causes in 44 patients (gallbladder carcinoma [n = 16], pancreatic carcinoma [n = 9], metastatic compression [n = 9], other [n = 10]). CT had shown suspected Mirizzi syndrome in 1/30 cases (3 %) and MRCP in 12/19 evaluated cases (63 %). EUS allowed a correct diagnosis in 11 of 15 evaluated cases (73 %). IDUS required an additional 8 +/- 3 min and showed a sensitivity of 97 % and specificity of 100 %.


CONCLUSIONS
IDUS is a sensitive and specific method for the diagnosis of Mirizzi syndrome.
Wehrmann
T
T
Medizinische Klinik I, Klinikum Hannover-Siloah, Hannover, Germany.
Riphaus
A
A
Martchenko
K
K
Kokabpick
S
S
Pauka
H
H
Stergiou
N
N
Frenz
M B
MB
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001649:Bile Duct Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D003549:Cystic Duct / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019160:Endosonography; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013577:Syndrome