Role of intravenous cholangio-cholecystography in the diagnosis of asymptomatic choledocholithiasis

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Standard diagnostic procedures (anamnesis, physical examination, laboratory analyses, ultrasound diagnosis), commonly used in diagnosis and preparation for surgical intervention of patients with cholelithiasis, are in most cases a reliable indicator for evaluation of the disease and conditions planned for surgery. DISCUSSION: In some cases by application of these narrow diagnostic models, some conditions, anatomic variations and biliary tract malformations remain unrecognized. Asymptomatic ("silent") choledocholithiasis (2.02%) represents a special diagnostic and therapeutic problem. CONCLUSION: Our extended diagnostic protocol includes routine intravenous cholangio-cholecystography as a standard diagnostic procedure for evaluation of cholecysto-choledocholithiasis prior planning cholecystectomy.