Nonoperative Imaging Techniques in Suspected Biliary Tract Obstruction
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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Elsevier - Publisher Connector HPB, 2006; 8: 409Á425 REVIEW ARTICLE Nonoperative imaging techniques in suspected biliary tract obstruction FRANCES TSE1, JEFFREY S. BARKUN2, JOSEPH ROMAGNUOLO3, GAD FRIEDMAN4, JEFFREY D. BORNSTEIN5 & ALAN N BARKUN2 1Division of Gastroenterology, McMaster University Medical Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, 2Division of Gastroenterology, Montreal General Hospital and Royal Victoria Hospital Sites, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 3Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA, 4Division of Gastroenterology, Sir Mortimer B. Davis-Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada and 5Division of Gastroenterology, Duke University Medical Centre, Durham, NC, USA Abstract Evaluation of suspected biliary tract obstruction is a common clinical problem. Clinical data such as history, physical examination, and laboratory tests can accurately identify up to 90% of patients whose jaundice is caused by extrahepatic obstruction. However, complete assessment of extrahepatic obstruction often requires the use of various imaging modalities to confirm the presence, level, and cause of obstruction, and to aid in treatment plan. In the present summary, the literature on competing technologies including endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), percutaneous transhepatic cholangiopancreatography (PTC), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS), magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), helical CT (hCT) and helical CT cholangiography (hCTC) with regards to diagnostic performance characteristics, technical success, safety, and cost-effectiveness is reviewed. Patients with obstructive jaundice secondary to choledocholithiasis or pancreaticobiliary malignancies are the primary focus of this review. Algorithms for the management of suspected obstructive jaundice are put forward based on current evidence. Published data suggest an increasing role for EUS and other noninvasive imaging techniques such as MRCP, and hCT following an initial transabdominal ultrasound in the assessment of patients with suspected biliary obstruction to select candidates for surgery or therapeutic ERCP. The management of patients with a suspected pancreaticobiliary condition ultimately is dependent on local expertise, availability, cost, and the multidisciplinary collaboration between radiologists, surgeons, and gastroenterologists. Key Words: jaundice, cholestasis, choledocholithiasis, common bile duct neoplasms, cholangiocarcinoma, cholangiopancreato- graphy, cholangiography, endosonography, magnetic resonance angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, CT, spiral CT, ultrasonography, costs and cost analysis Introduction rately identify up to 90% of patients whose jaundice is caused by extrahepatic obstruction [1Á21]. However, Evaluation of obstructive jaundice is a common clinical problem. Often, the initial problem is to complete assessment of extrahepatic obstruction often distinguish between intrahepatic and extrahepatic requires the use of various imaging modalities to biliary obstruction. Choledocholithiasis and pancrea- confirm the presence, level, and cause of obstruction, ticobiliary malignancies (pancreatic head cancer, and to aid in treatment planning. Current technolo- ampullary cancer, and cholangiocarcinoma) are the gies include transabdominal ultrasound (US), endo- most common causes of extrahepatic obstruction. scopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), Less common causes include benign strictures, transhepatic cholangiopancreatography (PTC), endo- chronic pancreatitis, metastatic nodes to the porta scopic ultrasound (EUS), magnetic resonance cho- hepatis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis. Many langiopancreatography (MRCP), helical CT (hCT), studies have shown that clinical data such as history, and helical CT cholangiography (hCTC). With the physical examination, and laboratory tests can accu- rapid advancement in imaging technology, there is Correspondence: Dr Frances Tse, 4W8, McMaster University Medical Centre, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8N 3Z5. Tel: /1905 521 2100, ext. 76732. Fax: /1 905 521 4958. E-mail: [email protected] ISSN 1365-182X print/ISSN 1477-2574 online # 2006 Taylor & Francis DOI: 10.1080/13651820600746867 410 F. Tse et al. little consensus in the literature as to which imaging where appropriate. Where appropriate, although be- modality is most appropriate for a given clinical yond the scope of this narrative review, pertinent situation. This can lead to duplication of testing issues relating to tissue diagnosis and therapy (since with the possibility of increasing costs and delaying some of the techniques described may be both diagnosis. Furthermore, newer modalities are often diagnostic and therapeutic) are briefly discussed. being incorporated into practice before accurate Finally, based on the results of the literature search, assessment of their cost-effectiveness has been com- clinically relevant algorithms were constructed to pleted. highlight the possible roles of new technologies in The purpose of this article is to review competing the work-up of patients with suspected CBD stones or technologies in the evaluation of suspected extrahe- pancreaticobiliary malignancies. patic obstruction with regard to diagnostic perfor- mance characteristics, technical success, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Patients with obstructive jaundice Current imaging technologies secondary to common bile duct (CBD) stones or Direct versus indirect imaging pancreaticobiliary malignancies are the primary focus The various imaging modalities can be classified into of this review. The work-up of patients with suspected either direct or indirect techniques [22]. The former intrahepatic cholestasis will not be addressed. Algo- rithms for the management of suspected obstructive are more invasive, and include ERCP and PTC. They jaundice due to CBD stones and pancreaticobiliary carry a higher associated risk, but have the added malignancies are provided. ability to sample tissue and perform therapeutic maneuvers, such as biliary drainage with stenting or stone removal. The main concern with these techni- Methods ques is the risk of pancreatitis and cholangitis as a A systematic search was performed for relevant arti- result of opacification of an obstructed biliary tree cles published in English language using MEDLINE that cannot be drained, with rare complications such and PUBMED from 1966 to December 2003. The as perforation, bleeding or bile leak [23Á26]. Also, search strategy included the key terms: cholestasis, direct techniques are limited to the evaluation of the choledocholithiasis, pancreatic neoplasms, biliary tract intrinsic biliary tract and cannot define the presence neoplasms, cholangiocarcinoma, ampulla of vater, cho- of extrinsic compression of the biliary tree by langiography, endoscopic, intravenous, laparoscopic, in- surrounding structures. Indirect techniques offer tra-operative, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance lower procedural risk and may allow staging of imaging, computed tomography, spiral computed tomo- malignancies. New indirect modalities, such as graphy, surgery, complications, decision support techni- MRCP (with solid organ MR), EUS, and hCTC ques, costs and cost analysis, cost-benefit analysis, (with hCT) offer improved imaging quality, while at sensitivity and specificity, comparative study, and pro- the same time maintaining a low risk profile. EUS has spective studies. Information was collected on test some therapeutic potential in addition to the oppor- performance characteristics (sensitivity, specificity, tunity for biopsy and cytology, but because it requires negative and positive predictive values), with regards conscious sedation, it is the most invasive of the to identifying the presence, level, and cause of biliary indirect group of imaging technologies. Table I obstruction. The technical success, safety and costs of summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of the the various imaging modalities were also examined main techniques discussed. Table I. Comparison of advantages and disadvantages of the main biliary imaging techniques. Indirect Direct Imaging modality US hCTC* MRCP$ EUS ERCP PTC Portability /// / / // / / Safety /// // /// // / / Operator dependence /// / // /// // // Low cost /// / / / / // Staging of malignancy / /// /// /// / / Tissue sampling / / / /// /// // Therapy / / / / /// /// US, transabdominal ultrasound; hCTC, helical CT cholangiography; MRCP, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography; EUS, endoscopic ultrasound; ERCP, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; PTC, transhepatic cholangiopancreatography. *hCTC includes cholangiography that requires intravenous contrast administration that is excreted into the biliary tract. $Includes abdominal MR. Nonoperative imaging techniques in suspected biliary tract obstruction 411 Transabdominal ultrasonography (US) strate the cause of biliary obstruction, and helps in making a diagnosis based on the morphology of the Transabdominal US (US) remains the initial imaging biliary and pancreatic ducts. In the evaluation of CBD test of choice in the evaluation of suspected biliary stones, Frey et al. [61] noted that ERCP had a obstruction because it is noninvasive, inexpensive, sensitivity of 90%, a specificity of 98%, and an and