Fluoroscopic Evaluation of the Bile Ducts: Anatomic Variants, Benign and Malignant Pathologies and Bile Leaks: Part I

Direct cholangiography (DC) includes endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), intraoperative cholangiography (IOC), T-tube cholangiography (TTC), and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC). Radiologists need to understand how each technique is performed and how to interpret each study. In many institutions, radiologists do not interpret ERCPs. Currently, common duct explorations are rarely performed; therefore, radiologists are not interpreting TTCs as frequently as they did in the past. In addition, many institutions are using alternative techniques to replace IOC. Therefore, our radiology residents are not being trained to perform and interpret DC. This presentation describes the important aspects of the performance and interpretation of DC.