Infusion hepatotomography for evaluation of obstructive jaundice

Total body opacification with high doses of a urographic contrast agent demonstrated dilated intrahepatic biliary ducts as branching or rounded lucencies in all of 18 patients with obstructive jaundice. Dilated extrahepatic ducts were seen as tubular lucencies in 11 of 16 patients with distal common bile duct obstruction. In seven patients with nonobstructive jaundice and in a control group of 25, the biliary ducts were either normal or not seen. Gallbladder size was also evaluated. The site of obstruction could be predicted by the size of the gallbladder and visualization of the biliary ducts.