Radiology, Vol 138, 137-139, Copyright © 1981 by Radiological Society of North America
Ultrasonographic screening of the common hepatic duct in symptomatic patients after cholecystectomy
MF Graham, PL Cooperberg, MM Cohen and HJ Burhenne
This study was undertaken to assess the usefulness of an
ultrasonographically enlarged common hepatic duct as an indicator of
biliary obstruction after cholecystectomy. The abdominal sonograms of 165
postcholecystectomy patients were reviewed retrospectively, and follow-up
was obtained on 56 patients. In 23 of 36 patients who had common hepatic
ducts larger than 4 mm, the cause of biliary obstruction was found at
surgery. In the remaining 13 patients, no evidence of obstruction was found
on subsequent radiographic studies, and none of these patients underwent
surgery. Eight patients had common bile ducts that were considered to be
dilated (> 1cm) on subsequent intravenous cholangiography. In 20
patients whose common hepatic ducts measured 4 mm or less, 17 had no
evidence of dilatation on subsequent radiographic studies, but three had
choledocholithiasis.
