Endoscopic evaluation and therapies of biliary disorders.
Biliary disorders were once only accessible by orthodox surgery but are now diagnosed and treated by multiple methods and specialists. Therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography has flourished and continues to grow after its introduction with the first biliary spincterotomies in 1974 in Germany and Japan. The therapeutic biliary endoscopist contributes to the management of all biliary disorders and in many cases endoscopy is the preferable approach. However, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography remains a risky procedure and risk is best reduced by strictly limiting its use.
Joyce
Ann Marie
AM
Tufts Medical School, Burlington, MA 01805, USA. annmarie.joyce@lahey.org
Heiss
Frederick W
FW
D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000379:methods*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome