Pitfalls in cholangiographic interpretation

Cholangiography is a well established method of evaluating the biliary tract, and the typical appearances of the more commonly encountered biliary tract disorders have been well described. There are many pitfalls, however, in the interpretation of cholangiograms that become apparent as large numbers of patients are examined. These pitfalls may be secondary to: congenital anatomic alteration, failure to appreciate normal biliary ductal anatomy, technical errors, and interpretative confusion. Awareness of these pitfalls is emphasized to avoid serious cholangiographic misdiagnosis.