The role of imaging methods in identifying the causes of extrahepatic cholestasis.

Transabdominal ultrasonography is the first choice examination used for the etiological diagnosis of extrahepatic cholestasis because it is a noninvasive, rapid method and presently widely accessible. In this article we discuss the accuracy of transabdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in detecting the main causes of extrahepatic colestasis. Although in bile duct pathology, and especially in the evaluation of patients with jaundice, transabdominal ultrasonography is the first choice exploration, helicoidal CT, ERCP and MRCP are often required to establish the local cause of jaundice, local and distant consequences evaluation, appreciation of surgical intervention opportunity and choice of the right therapeutic method.