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Diagnosis of intrahepatic and common duct stones: Combined unenhanced and contrast-enhanced helical CT in 1090 patients

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Abstract

Background

We determined the accuracy of combined unenhanced and contrast-enhanced helical computed tomography (CT) for diagnosis of bile duct stones.

Methods

During a 12-month period, 1090 patients who underwent combined CT and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) or percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTC) were enrolled in this study. The results of prospective CT interpretation regarding the presence of bile duct stones were compared with results of endoscopic stone removal, PTC and with surgical results. In 70 patients, detectability of stones on CT was evaluated depending on stone types.

Results

Of 1090 study patients, 175 and 299 patients were confirmed to have intrahepatic and common duct stones, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of combined CT were 73% and 98% for diagnosis of intrahepatic stones and 71% and 97% for common duct stones. Of 70 patients 24, 25, and 21 patients had cholesterol, black pigment, and brown pigment stones, respectively. Eleven of 24 cholesterol stones, 21 of 25 black pigment stones, and 15 of 21 brown pigment stones were detected on combined CT.

Conclusion

Combined CT is of limited sensitivity for detection of bile duct stones, especially in Western countries where cholesterol stones predominate. It may be of greater value in populations with a higher incidence of pigment stones. Other complementary imaging modalities are needed for patients with negative CT findings who are highly suspected to have biliary stones.

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Acknowledgment

We thank Bonnie Hami, Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Cleveland, for her editorial assistance in the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 388-1, Poongnab-dong, Songpa-ku, Seoul, 138-736, Korea

    Jeong Kyong Lee, Tae Kyoung Kim, Jae Ho Byun, Ah Young Kim, Hyun Kwon Ha, Pyo Nyun Kim & Moon-Gyu Lee

  2. Department of Radiology, Ewha Womans University, College of Medicine, 911-1 Mok-dong, YangCheon-ku, Seoul, 158-710, Korea

    Jeong Kyong Lee

  3. Department of Medical Imaging, Toronto General Hospital, 200 Elizabeth St, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada

    Tae Kyoung Kim

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  1. Jeong Kyong Lee
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Correspondence to Tae Kyoung Kim.

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Lee, J.K., Kim, T.K., Byun, J.H. et al. Diagnosis of intrahepatic and common duct stones: Combined unenhanced and contrast-enhanced helical CT in 1090 patients. Abdom Imaging 31, 425–432 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-006-9076-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-006-9076-1

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