J Korean Radiol Soc.  1990 Feb;26(1):117-120. 10.3348/jkrs.1990.26.1.117.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography in recurrent pyogenic cholangitis

• Hong KS
• Lim JH
• Ko YT
• Lee DH

• KMID: 2358983
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.1990.26.1.117

Abstract

Recurrent pyogenic cholangitis is a disesase occurring in Orental persons characterized by itrahepatic pigmentstone formation with recurrent exacerbation and remissions of abdominal pain associated with jaundice, chills andfever. Authors retrospectively analysed endoscopic retrograde cholangiograms in 53 patients with recurrentpyogenic cholangitis, diagnosed by surgery(n=33) or on the clinical basis(n=20). cholangiographic findings ofrecurrent pyogenic cholangitis were disproportionately severe dilatation of the extrahepatic ducts with mild or nodilatation of the intrahepatic ducts, filling defect by a stone or stones(n=45), straightening and rigidity of teintrahepatic ducts(n=33), increased or right angle bile duct branching pattern(n=31), decrease in arborization(n=28), acute peripheral tapering (n=21), irregular narrowing and/or beading(n=14). In 47 cases of recurrentpyogenic cholangitis with stone, stones were in the extrahepatic ducts in 27 cases, intrahepatic ducts in 5 cases,and both intra-and extrahepatic ducts in 15 cases. In 6 cases, there were no stones in the bile ducts; in thesecases, characteristic cholangiographic findings enabled us to diagnose recurrent pyogenic cholangitis. Thus,endoscopic retrogade cholangiogram is the modality of choice in diagnosing recurrent pyogenic cholangitis,especially in the absence of stones on ultrasound examination.

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Bile Ducts
Chills
Cholangiography*
Cholangitis*
Dilatation
Humans
Jaundice
Retrospective Studies
Ultrasonography