Radiology, Vol 138, 411-416, Copyright © 1981 by Radiological Society of North America
The diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography in obstructive biliary disease: a comparative evaluation with direct cholangiography
H Shimizu, M Ida, S Takayama, T Seki, M Yoneda, S Nakaya, T Yanagi, B Bando, H Sato, M Uchiyama, T Okumura, S Miura and M Fujisawa
Computed tomography (CT) and direct cholangiography were performed in 75
patients for the evaluation of obstructive biliary disease. The two
modalities correlated well in cases of moderately or severly dilated
intrahepatic bile ducts that showed tortuosity and/or engorgement, but mild
dilatation with stretching of theperipheral intrahepatic bile ducts that
was seen with direct cholangiography was detected with CT in only one of
nine patients. Consequently, the CT diagnosis was correct in 41 of 51
patients (80.4%) with obstructive biliary disease; however, CT was correct
in only 15 of the 25 patients (60%) with nontumorous obstructive biliary
disease. It is concluded that, in cases of clinically suspected
nonneoplastic obstructive disease, percutaneous transhepatic
cholangiography or endoscopic retograde cholangiopancreatography should be
performed even when dilated ducts are not demonstrated by CT.
