Ultrasonography of the biliary tract - up to date. The importance of correlation between imaging methods and patients' signs and symptoms.
Ultrasonography is generally accepted and performed as a first choice imaging technique in patients with jaundice. The method allows the discrimination between cholestatic and mechanical jaundice. The existing procedures are multiple: gray scale, Doppler, i.v. contrast enhancement, elastography, tridimensional ultrasonography, each of these with different contribution to the positive and differential diagnosis regarding the nature of the jaundice. The final diagnosis is a multimodal one and the efficiency is dependent on the level of the available technology, the examiner's experience, the degree and modality of integration of the data within the clinical context, as well as on the portfolio of available imaging procedures. This review shows the main ultrasonographic methods consecrated in the evaluation of the biliary tree. It also underlines the integrated character of the procedures, as well as the necessity to correlate with other imaging methods and the clinical situation.
Ultrasound Imaging Laboratory, Department of Imaging and Radiology, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Radu
R
Badea
Gastroenterology Department, 3rd Medical Clinic, "Octavian Fodor" Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Razvan.Zaro@umfcluj.ro.
Răzvan
R
Zaro
Gastroenterology Department, 3rd Medical Clinic, "Octavian Fodor" Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Marcel
M
Tanțău
Med. Klinik 2, Caritas Krankenhaus Bad Mergentheim, Germany.
Liliana
L
Chiorean
D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler
D003287:Contrast Media