Cholangiographic findings in ulcerative colitis

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) was performed in 28 patients with hepatobiliary disease associated with ulcerative colitis. The films were reviewed and correlated with diagnoses at liver biopsy. Thirteen patients with extrahepatic as well as intrahepatic bile duct abnormalities had characteristic cholangiographic findings compatible with sclerosing cholangitis, together with cholangiocarcinoma in one patient. Six patients had intrahepatic bile duct involvement only, and the cholangiographic abnormalities differed from those of sclerosing cholangitis. In 5 of these patients cirrhosis of the liver was found at biopsy or clinically. The result indicates that in patients with hepatobiliary disease suggested in association with ulcerative colitis, ERC gives valuable information.