CLINICAL EVALUATION OF PERCUTANEOUS TRANSHEPATIC CHOLECYSTOSCOPY (PTCCS)

Abstract

Percutaneous transhepatic cholecystoscopy (PTCCS) has been developed for precise diagnosis and endoscopic therapy of various gallbladder diseases. The time required until PTCCS is shortened considerably up to 6.1 days by establishment of the procedures and improvement of design of the devices. No serious complications have been experienced. Forty four cases including 14 of gallbladder carcinoma were suspected of having gallbladder carcinoma by various procedures of imaging diagnosis. A definitive diagnosis was made by PTCCS in all these cases. In gallbladder carcinoma cases, mucosal expansion towards the neck of the gallbladder was correctly diagnosed in 6 out of 14 cases by the concomitant use of biopsy under endoscopy. Protuberant lesions in the gallbladder were removed by polypectomy in 10 cases, and stones were safely removed in 15 patients with gallstones. This is a safe method and not prerequisite to surgery. This method is not only the best precision method for definite diagnosis of gallbladder diseases, but also an effective therapeutic method for removal of stones, benign polyps, etc.