1998 Volume 54 Issue 2 Pages 233-240
There are many variations in the branching pattern of the intra-and extrahepatic bile ducts in the hepatic hilum. It is important to understand the three-dimensional anatomical structures of these bile ducts to determine the surgical approach for cholangiocarcinoma in the hepatic hilum. We performed cholangiography in 214 patients from February 1994 to March 1995. Rotational cholangiography using triple-axis rotational arm loading equipment was done in 12 of the patients who were surgical candidates. The directions of rotation included horizontal, cranial, caudal, and cranial-caudal. Rotational IVR-shot was also performed in the region of interest. Our method made it possible to demonstrate the continuity of each segmental branch, providing important information as to the surgical approach to cholangiocarcinoma. The technique was also useful for localizing calculi in the intrahepatic bile ducts. Images without overlapping were obtained by rotational IVR-shot.
