Percutaneous biliary endoscopy.

The development of small-diameter flexible endoscopes has expanded the role of biliary endoscopy to include percutaneous interventions. Percutaneous biliary endoscopy is a technique that is easily learned. The equipment for percutaneous biliary endoscopy is readily available since most hospitals have an appropriate-sized choledochoscope and light source for intraoperative use. Therefore, the initial capital costs associated with flexible biliary endoscopy are minimal. Percutaneous biliary endoscopy in the interventional radiology suite is an ideal arrangement to facilitate a wide variety of biliary diagnostic and interventional procedures.