Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Intravenous cholangiography in the CT era

  • Published:
Gastrointestinal Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

With the availability of computed tomography (CT), ultrasonography (US), percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC), and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), the use of intravenous cholangiography (IVC) has waned. A retrospective study of 69 intravenous cholangiograms performed from 1979 through 1982 assessed the utility of intravenous cholangiography, as well as its effect on patient management, at an institution where CT was highly developed. In no case after normal findings on CT and/or ultrasound examination did IVC make a positive pathologic diagnosis. After abnormal results on CT and/or US examinations, in no case did IVC add to the diagnosis. Finally, after technically suboptimal results of CT and/or US examinations, IVC made only 1 positive pathologic diagnosis. Overall, IVC correctly demonstrated only 5 of 9 cases of common duct stones or strictures. Of the 26 cases with anatomical correlation there were a total of 7 false-positive and -negative IVC examinations. In this series, IVC was rarely useful in the diagnosis of biliary tract disease. Given the high inaccuracy rate of IVC in this study, its use for the exclusion of biliary tract disease is discouraged.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Scholz FJ, Johnston DO, Wise RE: Intravenous cholangiography: optimum dosage and methodology.Radiology 114:513–518, 1975

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Craft IL, Smates JD: Renal failure after cholangiography.Br Med J 2:736, 1967

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Stillman AE: Hepatotoxic reaction to iodipamide meglumine injection.JAMA 228:1420–1421, 1974

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Goodman MW, Ansel HJ, Vennes JA, Lasser RB, Siluis SE: Is intravenous cholangiography still useful?Gastroenterology 79:642–645, 1980

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Eubanks B, Martinez CR, Mehigan D, Cameron JL: Current role of intravenous cholangiography.Am J Surg 143:731–733, 1982

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Baron RL, Stanley RJ, Lee JKT, Koehler RE, Melson GL, Balfe DM, Weyman PJ: A prospective comparison of the evaluation of biliary obstruction using computed tomography and ultrasonography.Radiology 145:91–98, 1982

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Jeffrey RB, Federle MP, Laing FC, Wall S, Rego J, Moss AA: Computed tomography of choledocholithiasis.AJR 140:1179–1183, 1983

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Baron RL, Stanley RJ, Lee JKT, Koehler RE, Levitt RG: Computed tomographic features of biliary obstruction.AJR 140:1173–1178, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  9. Pedrosa CS, Casanova R, Rodriguiz R: Computed tomography in obstructive jaundice. Part I. The level of obstruction.Radiology 139:627–634, 1981

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Pedrosa CS, Casanova R, Lezana AH, Fernandez MC: Computed tomography in obstructive jaundice. Part II. The cause of obstruction.Radiology 139:635–645, 1981

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Haubek A, Pederson JH, Burcharth F, Gruner-Gaard J, Hancke S, Williamsen L: Dynamic sonography in the evaluation of jaundice.AJR 136:1071–1074, 1981

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Koeinigsberg M, Wierner SN, Walzer A: The accuracy of sonography in the differential diagnosis of obstructive jaundice. A comparison with cholangiography.Radiology 133:157–165, 1979

    Google Scholar 

  13. Helias E, Hamlyn AN, Jain S, Lang RG, Summerfield JA, Dick R, Sherlock S: A randomized trial of percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography with the Chiba needle versus endoscopic retrograde cholangiography for bile duct visualization in jaundice.Gastroenterology 71:439–443, 1976

    Google Scholar 

  14. Matzen P, Hanbeck A, Holst-Christian J, Lejerstafte J, Juhl E: Accuracy of direct cholangiography by endoscopic or transhepatic route in jaundice — a prospective study.Gastroenterology 81:237–241, 1981

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Osnes M, Gronseth K, Larsen S, Lotueit T, Lowe P, Nordshus T: Comparison of endoscopic retrograde and intravenous cholangiography in the diagnosis of biliary calculi.Lancet 2:230, 1978

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Scholz FJ, Weissmann HS: Is intravenous cholangiography obsolete?Appl Radiol 25:112, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  17. Scharschmidt BF, Goldberg HR, Schmid R: Current concepts in diagnosis: approach to the patient with cholestatic jaundice.N Engl J Med 308:1515–1519, 1983

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Ralph L. Smathers

    Present address: Department of Radiology, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 510 South Kingshighway, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

    Kenneth S. Rholl, Ralph L. Smathers, Bruce L. McClennan M.D. & Joseph K. T. Lee

Authors
  1. Kenneth S. Rholl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ralph L. Smathers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bruce L. McClennan M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Joseph K. T. Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rholl, K.S., Smathers, R.L., McClennan, B.L. et al. Intravenous cholangiography in the CT era. Gastrointest Radiol 10, 69–74 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01893073

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01893073

Key words

Search

Navigation