Computed tomography of choledocholithiasis

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · AJR, Am. J. Roentgenol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2214/ajr.140.6.1179· OSTI ID:5553595

Jeffrey, R B; Federle, M P; Laing, F C; Wall, S; Rego, J; Moss, A A

Computed tomography (CT) correctly diagnosed common bile duct stones in 19 (90%) of 21 surgically proven cases. CT demonstrated calculi in all 13 patients with calcium bilirubinate common duct stones and six of eight patients with predominantly cholesterol stones. There were two false-negative diagnoses in patients with cholesterol calculi scanned at 1 cm intervals. Cholesterol stones are nearly isodense with bile and may be difficult to visualize in the common duct by routine scanning techniques. There are three suggestive CT features of cholesterol common duct calculi: (1) abrupt termination of the distal common bile duct without an obstructing mass, (2) a faint rim of increased density along the peripheral margin of a low-density calculus, and (3) mottled areas of increased density centrally within a calculus elevating its CT number above values for normal bile. Modification of scanning technique to obtain high-resolution images of the extrahepatic biliary tree is stressed to optimize visualization of the above findings.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, San Francisco
• OSTI ID: 5553595
• Journal Information: AJR, Am. J. Roentgenol.; (United States), Journal Name: AJR, Am. J. Roentgenol.; (United States) Vol. 140:6; ISSN AAJRD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550602* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Diagnostics-- (1980-)
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BILIARY TRACT
CALCINOSIS
CALCULI
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
IMAGES
MEDICINE
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PATIENTS
SURGERY
TOMOGRAPHY