Fine-needle transhepatic cholangiography. Indications and usefulness

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary imaging
• Gastroenterology
• Interventional radiology

Background:

• The biliary tree requires effective diagnostic tools for evaluating obstructive jaundice.
• Fine-needle transhepatic cholangiography (FNTC) is widely available and has a low complication rate.
• FNTC is useful even in cases of biliary obstruction without ductal dilation, such as sclerosing cholangitis or non-obstructing stones.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the experience with over 700 cases of fine-needle transhepatic cholangiography.
• To emphasize the role of FNTC in defining the site and cause of biliary obstruction.

Main Methods:

• Review of over 700 cases undergoing fine-needle transhepatic cholangiography.
• Analysis of complication rates, including bleeding, peritonitis, sepsis, and death.

Main Results:

• Fine-needle transhepatic cholangiography is a widely available diagnostic tool for the biliary tree.
• The overall complication rate for FNTC is less than 5%.
• FNTC is effective in diagnosing biliary obstruction, including cases without ductal dilation.

Conclusions:

• Fine-needle transhepatic cholangiography is a safe and effective method for evaluating biliary obstruction.
• The procedure plays a central role in identifying the location and etiology of biliary tree issues.
• Its utility extends to complex cases, including those with non-dilated ducts.