Ultrasonography of the biliary tract – up to date. The importance of correlation between imaging methods and patients’ signs and symptoms.

Abstract

Ultrasonography is generally accepted and performed as a first choice imaging technique in patients with jaundice. The method allows the discrimination between cholestatic and mechanical jaundice. The existing procedures are multiple: gray scale, Doppler, i.v. contrast enhancement, elastography, tridimensional ultrasonography, each of these with different contribu- tion to the positive and differential diagnosis regarding the nature of the jaundice. The final diagnosis is a multimodal one and the efficiency is dependent on the level of the available technology, the examiner’s experience, the degree and modality of in- tegration of the data within the clinical context, as well as on the portfolio of available imaging procedures. This review shows the main ultrasonographic methods consecrated in the evaluation of the biliary tree. It also underlines the integrated character of the procedures, as well as the necessity to correlate with other imaging methods and the clinical situation.