Learning objectives
• To describe computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of the most common benign and malignant pathologies responsible for biliary tract obstruction.
• To perform an accurate differential diagnosis in order to apply the appropriate therapeutic methods.
• To allow radiologists to efficiently manage patients accusing signs and symptoms suggestive for an obstacle along the biliary tract.
Background
The biliary tract starts with bile canaliculi that form inside the liver and tend to group up into larger ducts.
They carry the exocrine bile produced by the hepatocytes to the interlobular ducts and further on to the left and right hepatic ducts.
The latter two reunite in order to form the common hepatic duct.
The gallbladder is connected to the extrahepatic biliary tract through the cystic duct which joins the common hepatic duct in order to form the common bile duct (CBD).
Furthermore,
the...
Findings and procedure details
In order to provide a good understanding of the key imaging features in biliary obstruction we collected multiple CT and MR images from the archives of our institute.
A brief description of the epidemiology,
clinical features,
key imaging changes and differential diagnosis are provided for the most frequent benign and malignant pathologies known to generate biliary tract obstruction.
BENIGN LESIONS
I.
Choledocholithiasis
Epidemiology
• The most common benign cause of biliary tract obstruction;
• Twice more frequently encountered in women than in men (F:M =...
Conclusion
Given that the number of both CT and MRI examinations is steadily increasing worldwide and that many patients undergo such imaging techniques for various pathologies,
it is not uncommon for radiologists to confront with incidental findings that can be held responsible for an obstruction along the biliary tract.
Therefore,
it is crucial for radiologists to recognize the key imaging changes that affect the bile ducts and also correlate them with other information like the epidemiological and clinical contexts in order to provide an accurate report...
Personal information
Lucian Mihai Florescu,
Alina Maria Lapadat,
Simona Bondari,
Ioana Andreea Gheonea
Department of Radiology Medical Imaging,
University of Medicine and Pharmacy,
Craiova,
Romania.
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