Postcholecystectomy syndrome: evaluation using biliary scintigraphy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

We prospectively studied 30 patients with postcholecystectomy syndrome to determine the efficacy of biliary scintigraphy in the detection of stenosis of the sphincter of Oddi. All patients underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Biliary scintigraphy disclosed stenosis of the sphincter by agreement with the ERCP or surgical findings in nine (90%) of ten patients and in eight (100%) of eight patients with biliary obstruction from other causes. Retention of activity at 2 hours in visually prominent ducts was the best predictor of abnormal biliary drainage. Biliary scintigraphy is a useful, noninvasive screening test for the detection of postcholecystectomy biliary obstruction.     

Hepatobiliary scintigraphy and sonography in early biliary obstruction

The authors examined 139 patients thought to have early, partial, or intermittent biliary obstruction, using sonography, hepatobiliary scintigraphy, and in selected cases contrast cholangiography. Of 125 patients with a well-established final diagnosis, sonography and scintigraphy disagreed in 29 (23%). Scintigraphy revealed early or low-grade obstruction in 13 patients who had no evidence of dilated ductules, while 7 patients with dilatation from prior stone passage or biliary surgery showed normal clearance. The authors conclude that in a preselected population in whom early or low-grade biliary obstruction may be present, disagreement between sonography and scintigraphy is not rare, and the absence of sonographically detectable dilatation does not exclude obstruction.     

Gallbladder ejection fraction: correlation of scintigraphic and ultrasonographic techniques

PURPOSE: The assessment of gallbladder function and ejection fraction using sincalide-enhanced biliary scintigraphy is a useful way to evaluate patients with recurrent right upper quadrant pain but no gallstones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We wanted to determine whether gallbladder contraction measured by ultrasonography could be used in place of biliary scintigraphy. Biliary scans with an infusion of sincalide and concurrent ultrasonography were performed in 17 patients with histories of recurrent abdominal pain and no evidence of gallstones by ultrasound. RESULTS: Gallbladder ejection fractions calculated by ultrasound and scintigraphy using standard techniques showed only a weak correlation. The poor performance of ultrasound appears to arise because the variable shape of the gallbladder invalidates the calculation of its volume by the formula for a prolate spheroid. When gallbladders that were ellipsoidal were subselected, correlation was improved. The level of training of the sonologist did not have a significant effect on the results. CONCLUSION: Gallbladder ejection fraction calculated by ultrasonography cannot be used routinely as a substitute for biliary scintigraphy.     

Non-western patterns of biliary stones and the role of ascariasis

Biliary calculi of a non-Western pattern were detected in 15 patients on real-time sonography performed over a 3-year period in a center serving a predominantly "Cape colored" (mixed race) population in South Africa. In two patients definite calculi were detected only in the common bile duct or gallbladder, but there was strong imaging and clinical evidence that the calculi were secondary to ascariasis. Twelve patients had intrahepatic calculi, predominantly left-sided, and evidence of past or present ascariasis. In at least five of the 12, biliary ascariasis was found at sonography or surgery. These fourteen patients reported recurrent, acute attacks of pain and cholangitis over a period of years. The symptoms were often difficult to distinguish clinically from those of uncomplicated intestinal or biliary ascariasis. The 15th patient had no evidence of ascariasis. Intrahepatic calculi were evenly distributed throughout both lobes and were clinically silent. Only one of the 13 patients with definite intrahepatic calculi had evidence of gallbladder calculi.     

Technetium-99m BIDA biliary scintigraphy in the evaluation of the jaundiced patient

Biliary scintigraphy using 99mTc p-butyl acetanilidiminodiacetic acid (BIDA) was performed as part of the diagnostic evaluation on 96 patients with jaundice (serum bilirubin greater than 2 mg/dl) to assess its value in this group of patients. The results of scintigraphy revealed no obstruction to the flow of the scintigraphic agent into the duodenum in 54 patients, delayed appearance of the agent (normal upper limit 60 min) in the duodenum indicating partial obstruction in 22 patients, and complete obstruction of the duct demonstrated by absence of agent in the duodenum in 20 patients. The findings were correlated with the final diagnosis and the overall results show accuracy of 92.7%, sensitivity of 97.3%, and specificity of 89.8%. Biliary scintigraphy was thus found to be useful in differentiating nonobstructive, partially obstructive, and completely obstructive causes of jaundice.     

胆道支架与十二指肠支架联合应用治疗胆道消化道梗阻

目的评价联合应用双支架治疗胆道及十二指肠梗阻的疗效。方法20例患者实施治疗。16例患者先经过经皮肝穿刺置入胆道支架解决胆道梗阻,患者出现十二指肠梗阻的症状后,14例患者经口腔、2例患者经胃造瘘口置入十二指肠支架。有4例患者同时有胆道和十二指肠梗阻的症状,同时置入胆道和十二指肠支架。结果所有患者都成功置入了双支架,没有出现并发症和再梗阻的表现。生存期1~14个月,平均5个月。结论联合双支架置入是治疗胆道和十二指肠梗阻的有效的方法。     

经胆道支架置入放射性粒子条治疗恶性胆道梗阻

目的探讨经胆道支架置入放射性粒子条治疗恶性胆道梗阻的疗效。 方法38例恶性胆道梗阻的患者,应用¹²⁵I粒子,每个¹²⁵I粒子长4.5 mm、直径0.8 mm,送入导管制备粒子条。先行经皮肝穿刺胆道引流（PTCD）术;导丝经皮通过梗阻段,先行球囊导管扩张,后行经皮胆道支架成形术;然后经支架置入8～10F胆道引流管;再将装有粒子条的导管在透视下经胆道引流管送入所需照射部位,包敷固定引流管体外部分或包埋于皮下。 结果38例中36例成功施行经皮胆道支架成形术及放射性粒子条置入术,术后患者的胆红素均降至正常或接近正常（P<0.05）,未出现明显不良反应。 讨论经皮胆道支架成形术后联合放射性粒子条置入术治疗恶性胆道梗阻是一种安全有效的方法。     

Pediatric biliary interventions

The most common indication for percutaneous biliary evaluation and intervention in children is for the diagnosis and treatment of liver transplant complications, including strictures and bile leaks. Because liver transplants in children are commonly performed using a Roux-en-Y biliary-enteric anastomosis, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is not technically possible; therefore, the first-line procedure for evaluation and treatment of biliary obstruction in this population is percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC). Percutaneous biliary intervention can be challenging in these patients, because ductal dilation may be minimal or altogether absent in pediatric transplant livers even in the setting of severe obstruction. However, with proper technique, including the use of ultrasound guidance, technical success rates for PTC and biliary drainage can be similar to those in adults. Biliary drainage and biliary stenosis management is a long-term commitment that usually takes several months to more than a year and may require multiple repeat cholangioplasties and biliary drainage catheter exchanges. Due to its minimally invasive nature and relatively low morbidity and mortality compared with open surgical alternatives, percutaneous biliary intervention should be considered the first-line treatment option in children with biliary stenosis who have had previous liver transplant, and for those nontransplant patients who cannot be treated endoscopically.     

Ultrasonography of biliary tract dilatation without jaundice.

The significance of intrahepatic biliary distension in the nonjaundiced patient was studied. Biochemical profiles and endoscopic and surgical findings were evaluated. Biliary tract disease was proven in 11 of 12 patients, with nine of the 11 having concurrent pancreatic disease. Ultrasound proved a more sensitive indicator of partial biliary obstruction than the serum bilirubin levels. The biliary tract of nonjaundiced patients with ultrasonographic evidence of biliary distension should be evaluated by additional studies regardless of the biochemical profile.     

Radiological interventions in malignant biliary obstruction

Malignant biliary obstruction is commonly caused by gall bladder carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma and metastatic nodes. Percutaneous interventions play an important role in managing these patients. Biliary drainage, which forms the major bulk of radiological interventions, can be palliative in inoperable patients or pre-operative to improve liver function prior to surgery. Other interventions include cholecystostomy and radiofrequency ablation. We present here the indications, contraindications, technique and complications of the radiological interventions performed in patients with malignant biliary obstruction.     

Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage for bile leaks and fistulas

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and biliary drainage were performed in 12 patients with major injuries to the bile ducts manifested by biliary leaks and fistulas. Eleven of the 12 patients had had inadvertent biliary trauma during surgery. In six patients, the biliary leaks sealed with percutaneous drainage. In other patients requiring definitive surgical procedures on the biliary tract, initial percutaneous drainage allowed these procedures to be delayed until the patients' clinical condition improved. Percutaneous biliary drainage is an important adjunct to the management of patients with traumatic extravasation of bile into the peritoneal cavity or biliary-cutaneous fistula.     

Biliary leaks: treatment by means of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage in the treatment of biliary leaks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients with a biliary leak involving either the common bile duct (n = 12), the biliary confluence (n = 2), or a hepaticojejunal anastomosis (n = 2) were treated by means of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. The biliary leak was due to severe acute necrotizing pancreatitis in six patients, while 10 patients had postoperative leak. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage was performed with a 12-F catheter, with two series of side holes positioned on both sides of the extravasation to divert bile flow away from the defect. RESULTS: In 13 patients, the biliary leak healed after drainage (mean duration, 78 days). In four of these patients, a slight residual narrowing of the bile duct was treated by means of either balloon dilation (n = 2) or balloon dilation followed by insertion of a metallic stent (n = 2). All 13 patients remained cured (mean follow-up, 38 months). Two patients with severe acute necrotizing pancreatitis died of complications unrelated to the biliary leak. Vascular complications occurred in two patients, one of whom died after surgical drainage of a subcapsular hematoma. CONCLUSION: Biliary leaks can be treated successfully by means of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage. The procedure is particularly useful when surgical or endoscopic management has failed.     

Relationship between vascular and biliary anatomy in living liver donors

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to determine whether there is an association between portal venous or hepatic arterial branching patterns (or both) and biliary anatomic variants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two radiologists independently reviewed preoperative hepatic CT scans and intraoperative cholangiograms from 39 consecutive living liver donors. The portal venous and hepatic arterial anatomy was classified on the basis of the preoperative CT scans and the biliary anatomy was classified on the basis the intraoperative cholangiograms into one of two groups: conventional or anomalous. Variables were tested for association using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Anomalous vascular branching variants were common, being present in 23 (59%) of 39 patients. Hepatic arterial anomalies were present in 18 (46%); portal venous anomalies, in seven (18%); and both, in two (5%). Biliary anomalies were present in 15 (38%) of the 39 patients. Of the 23 patients with anomalous vascular anatomy, seven (30%) had biliary anomalies. Of the 16 patients with conventional vascular anatomy, eight (50%) had biliary anomalies. There was no significant association between hepatic arterial anomalies, portal venous anomalies, or the combination of arterial and portal venous anomalies and anomalous biliary drainage. CONCLUSION: Portal venous and hepatic arterial branching patterns do not correlate well with biliary anatomic variants. In patients with normal hepatic vascular anatomy, biliary anomalies are common.     

Significance of in vitro photodynamic cytodiagnosis with 5-aminolevulinic acid in biliary brush cytology for malignant biliary stricture

BackgroundFor the early diagnosis of malignant biliary stricture due to biliary-pancreatic carcinoma, conventional biliary brush cytology with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP; the conventional method) is not sensitive enough.MethodsTwo hundred nine patients with biliary stricture who were admitted between September 2015 and June 2020 were enrolled in this study. Biliary brush cytology was performed on all patients. Samples were diagnosed independently by an expert pathologist and medical doctor with conventional cytology and photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) with 5-aminolevulinic acid.ResultsThe definitive diagnoses were 49 benign and 160 malignant diseases. The conventional method had a sensitivity of 77.5% (124/160) and specificity of 100% (49/49). The PDD method had a sensitivity of 77.5% (124/160) and specificity of 67.3% (33/49). The conventional method identified 36 malignant diseases as false negatives, while the PDD method enabled successful diagnoses of malignant diseases in 19 of these 36 patients. When PDD was combined with the conventional method, the sensitivity significantly increased to 89.4% (143/160, P = 0.006), and for biliary tract diseases only, the sensitivity increased to 95.6% (88/92, P = 0.001).ConclusionsMalignant biliary stricture can be diagnosed effectively and safely with the in vitro PDD method. The sensitivity could be further increased by combining PDD with the conventional method.     

The radiological management of biliary complications following liver transplantation

Purpose: Biliary complications contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality in the liver transplant recipient. Surgery has been the mainstay of therapy, but interventional radiological techniques have made significant progress. Methods: Diagnostic percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) was performed in 12 patients; percutaneous transhepatic drainage (PTD) was performed in 10 patients. Additional interventional procedures included laser lithotripsy, biopsy, dilatation, and stent implantation. Results: In 6 patients PTC revealed anastomotic, and in 6 patients nonanastomotic biliary strictures. Four patients had intrahepatic stones. Biliary strictures were treated by implantation of Palmaz stents in 5 of 6 patients with anastomotic strictures, and in 3 of 6 patients with nonanastomotic strictures. The intrahepatic stones were fragmented with dye laser lithotripsy under cholangioscopic control in 3 of 4 patients. One spontaneous stent migration after 24 months and one stent occlusion were observed; the remaining stents are still patent. Patients with anastomotic strictures had a more favorable outcome: 5 of 6 of these patients are still alive and symptom-free after an average of 27.4 months, but only 3 of 6 patients with nonanastomotic strictures are alive after an average of 9.8 months. Conclusion: The different outcomes in patients with anastomotic versus nonanastomotic strictures may be explained by the different causes of these types of stricture.     

Functional diagnosis of biliary endoprostheses using hepatobiliary sequence scintigraphy

In 11 patients with biliary endoprosthesis, hepatobiliary scintigraphy with dimethyliminodiacetic acid (HIDA) was performed 16 times because of an increase in the serum bilirubin level. For the demonstration of dysfunction of the endoprosthesis, this method proved to have the same sensitivity as transhepatic cholangiography, which was performed as control examination. Therefore, hepatobiliary scintigraphy, a noninvasive and well-tolerated examination, can be recommended as a primary diagnostic tool in addition to ultrasonography for assessment of the drainage function of the biliary endoprosthesis.     

Percutaneous endoscopy for biliary radiologic interventions

Biliary endoscopy is an adjunct to percutaneous biliary interventions. Although there are technical and cost considerations, the interventional radiologist may apply this useful tool to patients with a wide range of biliary diseases (eg, patients with retained intrahepatic stones, patients with suspected lesions requiring biopsy, etc). Discussed in this article are advantages, disadvantages, patient preparation, technical advice, complications, and a review of the literature. Percutaneous biliary endoscopy, applied through a transhepatic tube tract or a mature T tube tract, reduces radiation exposure to the patient and health care personnel in the room. The procedure is generally performed on an outpatient basis under conscious sedation. Given access to a choledochofiberscope and familiarity with its use, percutaneous endoscopy for biliary radiologic interventions is a valuable technique and may be used to manage patients with complex biliary disease.     

The role of radiology in the diagnosis and treatment of biliary complications after liver transplantation

Hepatic transplantation is now an accepted therapeutic option for selected patients with terminal liver disease. Biliary complications are, however relatively common after transplantation. We reviewed our experience with diagnostic and therapeutic biliary radiologic procedures in 151 hepatic recipients. Biliary complications were seen in 25% of patients. Interventional radiologic procedures were an integral part of the diagnostic and therapeutic management of these patients; reoperation was, nonetheless, occasionally required.     

A sign of symptomatic chronic cholecystitis on biliary scintigraphy

Five hundred patients with acute right-upper-quadrant pain underwent biliary scintigraphy with 99mTc paraisopropyliminodiacetic acid. One hundred and thirty-four studies were reported normal (both gallbladder and activity in bowel are noted in 1 hr). Of the 134 studies reported as normal, 32 showed intestinal activity before gallbladder visualization during the first hour of the study. Sonography and/or oral cholecystography revealed that 24 patients had gallstones, and eight patients had no demonstrable pathology in the biliary system. Of the 134 studies, 102 showed visualization of the gallbladder before intestinal activity during the first hour of the study. Sonography and/or oral cholecystography showed that 73 patients had normal biliary system. The remaining 29 patients had gallstones. The overall sensitivity of this finding is 45%, the specificity is 90%, and the accuracy is 73%. In this group of symptomatic patients, the appearance of intestinal activity before gallbladder activity on biliary scintigraphy warrants further evaluation of these patients by sonography and/or oral cholecystography.     

Huge biliary cystadenoma mimicking cholecystic lymphangioma in subhepatic space

Biliary cystadenoma is a rare cystic neoplasm and constitutes only 5% of all intrahepatic cysts of biliary origin. We report a case of a 44-year-old woman with huge biliary cystadenoma in the subhepatic space, mimicking a cholecystic lymphangioma. Findings of various imaging modalities including reconstructed CT image are presented and correlated with surgical and pathologic findings.