Ultrasound assessment of common bile duct diameter in Tikur Anbessa Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
BACKGROUND
The diameter of common bile duct is one of the critical issues that has to be addressed in diagnosing and treating hepatobilary diseases. Thus measurement of common bile duct diameter is an important component of the evaluation of biliary system as the size of common bile duct is a predictor of biliary obstruction. As a dilated common bile duct distinguishes obstructive from non obstructive causes of jaundice, accurate standards for normal measurements must be available. There is no study addressing the diameter of common bile duct diameter among Ethiopians.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the normal common bile duct diameter among Ethiopians and to identify factors associated with common bile duct diameter.


METHODS
A cross-sectional descriptive study. Tikur Anbessa Teaching Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from April, 2001 to September, 2002. A total of 293 adult patients of which 160 females and 133 males who were to undergo abdominal ultrasound were put under the study. All patients had fasted for longer than six hours. Patients with known biliary, pancreatic disease or surgery were not included in the study. The transverse and anteroposterior diameter of the common bite duct were measured just caudal to the level of portahepatis.


RESULTS
The mean diameter of the common bile duct diameter was found to be 3.9 mm; measured diameter ranged from 2.1 to 6mm. There was also a positive correlation between the common bile duct diameter with age and weight. No significant difference was noted between the two sexes and common bile duct diameter. No association was observed with height and common bile duct diameter.


CONCLUSIONS
The study showed the mean common bile duct diameter to be 3.9 mm and the diameter of the common bile duct was observed to increase with increasing of age and weight. The normal common bile duct diameter in Ethiopia is not previously studied, so this study can be a base line for future widespread and extended studies.
Admassie
Daniel
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Department of Radiology, Addis Ababa University, Medical Faculty, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. dadmasie@gmail.com
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D003135:Common Bile Duct / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D014463:Ultrasonography