[Spiral CT of the bile ducts]

The multiplanar capability of spiral CT improves the evaluation of bile duct lesions. In particular, spiral CT after intravenous administration of a cholangiographic agent (spiral CT cholangiography) provides adequate 2D and 3D images of the bile ducts in patients with normal bilirubin levels. Spiral CT cholangiography may be particularly useful as a noninvasive imaging method to detect biliary anatomic variations and bile duct stones before or after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This technique does not replace retrograde cholangiography which has therapeutic applications, but might help to select patients who need to undergo invasive procedures such as retrograde cholangiography.