Measurement of Biliary Tract Size and Drainage Time

Abstract

Measurements of biliary tract size and drainage time were made in 23 patients following endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and intravenous cholangiography (IVC). The extrahepatic biliary tree appeared approximately 3 mm larger on ERCP than on IVC. Serial measurements of the biliary tree comparing IVC with ERCP were subject to this difference. Comments regarding increasing dilatation of the biliary tree could be erroneous if these differences in technique were ignored. The biliary tract should be free of contrast medium 45 min after filling on ERCP; if not, an abnormality may be present at the sphincter of Oddi, even in the absence of other gross radiological biliary tract pathology.