Intense FDG Uptake in the Common Bile Duct Post-ERCP Mimics Acute Infectious Cholangitis

Abstract

In patients with obstructive pancreatitis due to choledocholithiasis, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the standard of care. ERCP-induced inflammation or infection of the common bile duct (i.e., cholangitis) is a rare complication with a high mortality rate in severe cases. We report an unusual case of incidental findings of intense FDG uptake in the common bile duct one month post-ERCP without clinical features of acute cholangitis, indicative of inflammation of CBD associated with or exaggerated by ERCP.