Biliary obstruction: Helical computed tomography cholangiography evaluation

Helical computed tomography cholangiography (HCTC) takes advantage of the improvement in the quality of multiplanar and three-dimensional reconstructions resulting from the volumetric acquisition of data achieved with helical computed tomography and the indirect opacification of the bile ducts provided by cholangiographic contrast media. This method was used to evaluate 31 patients with suspected biliary obstruction over a one-year period and the findings were compared with those of direct cholangiography and/or surgery. Biliary opacification was sufficient to allow three-dimensional reconstructions in 90,3% of cases. Sensitivity was 81% for the diagnosis of choledochoolithiasis and 100% for ascariasis, choledochal cysts and anatomic variants of the biliary tree. Our results indicate that HCTC is a valuable alternative as a diagnostic method prior to direct cholangiography. Direct cholangiography should be reserved for those patients who require it as part of a therapeutic procedure