1981 Volume 12 Issue 2 Pages 147-151
To determine the usefulness of imaging techniques for the diagnosis of obstructive jaundice, ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), hypotonic duodenography (HDG), pancreatoscintigraphy, angiography, percutaneus transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopan-creatography (ERCP) performed in 69 patients were reviewed retrospectively. Dilatations of intrahepatic biliary trees were noted in 72% of cases by US and in 70% by CT. HDG and pancreatoscintigraphy, were useful proceduers in patient with carcinoma of the head of pancreas and the papilla of Vater. However, positive findings were obtained in only 50% of cases by these procedures. Carcinoma of the head of pancreas as diagnosed in 81.1% of cases by PTC and in 55.8% of cases by ERCP. Positive findings of carcinoma of the common bile duct obtained by PTC and ERCP were 72% and 50% respectively. In conclusion, US in recomended to the first choice of examination to be done in patients with obstructive jaundice. Thereafter PTC and/or ERCP should be performed for finding of the localization and natures of stenosis in bile duct. Angiography is valuable procedure for further diagnosis of invasion of carcinoma and to determine the indication for surgical accessibility.
