AIM: The aim of the present study was to develop a new pharmacologic method during hepatobiliary scintigraphy by which patients with functional and organic forms of gallbladder (GB) dysfunction can be differentiated. METHODS: Quantitative hepatobiliary scintigraphy (QHBS) was performed on 31 patients with impaired GB motility selected by cerulein-augmented ultrasonography. ...

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and efficiency of plasma argon trimming of gastrointestinal and biliary metallic stents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 31 patients underwent plasma argon trimming of their metallic stents (14 women, 17 men; mean +/- SD age ...

AIM: To investigate the relationship between pancreatic amylase in bile duct and the clinico-pathological features in adult patients with choledochal cyst and anomalous pancreatico-biliary ductal union (APBDU). METHODS: From 39 patients who underwent surgery for choledochal cyst between March 1995 and March 2003, we selected 15 adult patients who had ...

Patients with salivary calculi are normally managed by removal of the calculus or, if necessary, the affected gland. If it is left untreated, a stone may migrate into the adjacent tissues. We present three patients in whom salivary calculi tracked to the surface of the skin. Two were removed under ...

BACKGROUND: We aimed to clarify the clinical characteristics of choledochocele and to evaluate the possibility of choledochocele as a risk factor for biliary malignancies. METHODS: The clinical feature, the configuration of the pancreatobiliary ductal system, coexistent pancreatobiliary lesions, and amylase level in bile in 21 patients with choledochocele were reviewed. ...

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the value of routinely performed preoperative magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) in detecting common bile duct (CBD) stones in patients stated to undergo elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In addition, we used MRC to investigate possible variants of the cystic duct. METHODS: Magnetic resonance ...

PURPOSE: Videoreflective dacryomeniscometry (VRD) for evaluation of marginal tear film has not been performed in patients with watery eye or in a controlled study. We used VRD to evaluate the height of the central marginal lower lid tear film in normal adults and compared it with two watery-eye groups and ...

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine how laboratory values and physical examination findings correlate with ultrasound findings in the setting of right upper quadrant pain. METHODS: Patients undergoing emergent ultrasound for the evaluation of biliary disease between November 1999 and April 2000 were included. Physical examination findings, ...

BACKGROUND: Pancreatobiliary reflux can occur even if the pancreaticobiliary junction is normal (occult pancreatobiliary reflux), and it may be associated with gallbladder carcinoma. The aim of the present study was to examine precancerous mucosal changes in the gallbladder from patients with occult pancreatobiliary reflux. METHODS: The mucosa of the gallbladder ...

BACKGROUND: Nonsurgical pathologic diagnosis of malignant bile duct stricture with a high sensitivity and specificity is desirable for therapeutic scheme. Percutaneous transhepatic endobiliary brush cytology in detecting obstructive jaundice is evaluated. METHODS: Fifty-eight consecutive patients with obstructive jaundice underwent percutaneous transhepatic cholangiodrainage (PTCD). During the process, a brush was inserted ...

Enteric fever due to Salmonella Typhi is a major public health problem. Typhoid carriers have high titres of Vi agglutinins in their sera. We worked out the baseline data for Vi agglutinins from 705 healthy blood donors (controls) by ELISA and compared it with 446 patients with biliary, gastrointestinal and ...

OBJECTIVE: To examine the utility of magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) in the preoperative evaluation of patients with gallstone pancreatitis. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Gallstone pancreatitis is often associated with the presence of common bile duct (CBD) stones that may require endoscopic removal prior to planned laparoscopic cholecystectomy. No reliable clinical criteria ...

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The relation of helminthic infestation to hepatolithiasis is a subject of dispute. This case-control study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of helminthiasis in hepatolithiasis patients and to compare the clinicopathological features of hepatolithiasis between patients with and without helminthiasis. METHODS: The prevalence of ascariasis or clonorchiasis ...

OBJECTIVES: Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is a unique clinical entity that has been recently proposed, and it is frequently associated with bile duct stricture. The aim of this study was to investigate the pathophysiology of the biliary tract involvement in patients with AIP. METHODS: We evaluated the clinicopathologic findings in 16 ...

INTRODUCTION: The association between staghorn calculus of the kidney long-standing and urothelial tumors of the renal pelvis is well documented. We describe 3 patients with urothelial cancer in a kidney who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of our series of more than 500 PCNLs revealed 3 ...

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Little is known about whether the severity of pancreatitis depends upon persistent stone impaction or stone passage into the duodenum, and the role of endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) has remained controversial. METHODS: This study reviewed our experience of 183 patients with gallstone pancreatitis, with special attention paid to the relationship ...

Objective. Distinguishing between malignant and benign biliary strictures remains problematic. The aim of this study was to compare and contrast the clinical features of patients with benign and malignant biliary strictures. Methods. Medical records of patients who underwent surgical resection for presumed cholangiocarcinoma were reviewed. Immunohistochemistry for hypoxia inducible factor-1-alpha ...

PURPOSE: To report the results of bilateral same-session ureteroscopy in patients with bilateral pathologies in urinary system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From among nearly 3000 patients who had undergone diagnostic or therapeutic ureteroscopy in our center, 23 (13 females and 10 males) were treated with bilateral same-session ureteroscopy. Pathologies included bilateral ...

In the paediatric section, two papers relating to the upper urinary tract are presented. The first, from Hungary, describes simultaneous bilateral percutaneous nephrolithotomy in 13 patients, where it was deemed feasible; this is the first such report. Authors from London report on unilateral nephrectomy in patients with nephrogenic hypertension, and ...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate patients' opinions on the degree of pain during shock wave lithotripsy, and the need for analgesics in patients with urinary stone. METHODS: A prospective questionnaire study involving subjective pain assessment during and just after shock wave lithotripsy was performed in consecutive patients with uncomplicated renal or ureteral ...

AIM: The aim of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of endoscopic insertion of biliary stents in patients with duodenal stents who develop secondary malignant obstructive jaundice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study population included 133 patients with unresectable malignant duodenal obstruction. In 106 patients a biliary stent was inserted ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and outcomes of percutaneous cholecystostomy as an alternative treatment option for elderly and critically ill patients who have acute cholecystitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of patients who underwent emergency percutaneous cholecystostomy at the North District Hospital, Hong Kong from September 1999 to ...

AIM: To report symptoms and findings of lacrimal duct malfunction after topical mitomycin C (MMC) for conjunctival neoplasia. METHODS: 14 consecutive patients treated with 1-6 cycles of topical 0.04% MMC four times daily for periods of 2 weeks were interviewed about symptoms of lacrimal duct malfunction. Patients who complained of ...

BACKGROUND: The contribution of nephrolithiasis-related end-stage renal disease (ESRD) to patients requiring renal replacement therapy has never been specifically evaluated. METHODS: Of the entire cohort of 1,391 consecutive patients who started maintenance dialysis therapy at our nephrology department between January 1989 and December 2000, a total of 45 patients (21 ...

Our purpose was to determine if the presence of duodenal diverticula predisposes to the development of pancreaticobiliary disease. Between May 1999 and February 2001, 381 patients were examined by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography. Of these patients, 51 had periampullary diverticula. In 27 patients the papilla was located inside the diverticulum (Group ...

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate our experience with ampulla of Vater tumors at the Creighton University and to establish the role of curative pancreaticoduodenectomy on the long-term survival rate of patients. METHODOLOGY: Between 1975 and 1997, 21 patients (15 M, 6 F) with ampulla of ...

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A delay in recognizing and treating an inflamed gallbladder may increase the risk of a necrotic evolution and represent a critical factor affecting the progression of the inflammatory process. Aim of the study is to assess the therapeutic attitude in patients with histologically proved gangrenous cholecystitis, to find out ...

Early differentiation of extrahepatic biliary atresia from intrahepatic cholestasis is important. Hepatobiliary scintigraphy is an excellent noninvasive investigation for ruling out extrahepatic biliary atresia. This study aimed at identifying the role of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a choleretic agent, in conjunction with hepatobiliary scintigraphy in differentiating extrahepatic biliary atresia from neonatal ...

BACKGROUND: Prior to cholecystectomy it is important to assess the common duct for choledocholithiasis. Given that a proportion of common duct stones will pass without incident and that methods of removal of these stones are potentially morbid, it would be very useful to have a test that identified only those ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Observation is often recommended for patients presenting with asymptomatic renal calculi. This study evaluated the natural history of asymptomatic calculi and the risk of progression of disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective evaluation of 300 male patients average age 62.8 years who were followed for ...

BACKGROUND: To determine accuracy of ultrasound (US) kidney, ureter and bladder (KUB) compared to un-enhanced helical CT (UHCT) in patients with renal failure in the diagnosis of stone and obstruction. METHODS: This is a case controlled study conducted in the period from June 2000 to July 2003 at a university ...

BACKGROUND: Except for pancreaticobiliary maljunction, the relationship between a relatively long common channel and gallbladder carcinoma is unknown. METHODS: For purposes of this study, a high confluence of pancreaticobiliary ducts was defined as a common channel that is 6 mm or greater in length, together with occlusion of the communication ...

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The effect of portal flow deprivation to the liver on bile composition and the biliary system remains undefined in children. This report catalogues the authors' experience with biliary tract problems in children with extrahepatic portal vein thrombosis (EHPVT). METHODS: Twenty-nine children with symptomatic idiopathic EHPVT were evaluated for the ...

Background: Biliary microlithiasis is a collection of cholesterol and calcium bilirubinate crystals and is known to cause biliary colic, acute pancreatitis and acute cholecystitis. In some of these patients biliary microlithiasis has been found. Objectives: To estimate the incidence of biliary microlithiasis in patients with upper abdominal pain and negative ...

BACKGROUND: It is not known whether initial endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is more cost effective than endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). METHODS: A cost-effectiveness analysis of EUS, MRCP and ERCP was performed on 163 patients. The effectiveness of an investigation was defined as the percentage of patients ...

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the treatment of patients with ureteral calculi of solitary kidneys (UCSK) in relation to the modality of urinary drainage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have studied a total of 55 patients with UCSK during the period from 1999 to 2002, 15 of them ...

PURPOSE: To identify patients with ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction who will benefit from endoscopic Acucise incision of the stenosis and to compare the open Hynes-Anderson pyeloplasty with this minimally invasive technique. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a prospective trial, 22 patients with primary and secondary UPJ obstruction were treated by Acucise ...

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate patients who underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy for "acalculus" cholangitis associated with juxtapapillary diverticula. METHODOLOGY: In a retrospective study we analyzed 87 patients who underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy for cholangitis; the cholangitis considered "acalculus", when outlining the extra- and intrahepatic bile ducts, we could ...

INTRODUCTION: Upper urinary tract stones are relatively uncommon in Nigeria and they are most often seen in men in their 4th and 5th decades. There is however no recent report on this disease from our locality. This retrospective study was done to evaluate the pattern of presentation of upper tract ...

AIM: To investigate a motilin effect on gallbladder volume in healthy volunteers and patients with functional dyspepsia. METHODS: Forty-three healthy volunteers and 10 patients with functional dyspepsia received motilin (4 pmol.min/kg) or placebo in four separate double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over studies. The gallbladder volume was measured by ultrasonography. Analysis of ...

Acalculous biliary pain has been related to gallbladder dysfunction that produces a gallbladder emptying defect-a condition which favours the development of lithiasis. It is therefore probable that microlithiasis is present in patients with gallbladder dysfunction. The aims of this study were to measure gallbladder emptying and investigate bile abnormalities in ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Horseshoe kidneys are a complex anatomic variant of fused kidneys, with a 20% reported incidence of associated calculi. Anatomic causes such as high insertion of the ureter on the renal pelvis and obstruction of the ureteropelvic junction are thought to contribute to stone formation via impaired drainage, ...

PURPOSE: To assess sonographic and clinical features that might be used to predict infected bile and/or patient outcome from ultrasonography (US)-guided percutaneous cholecystostomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February 1997 and August 2002 at one institution, 112 patients underwent US-guided percutaneous cholecystostomy (59 men, 53 women; average age, 69.3 years). All ...

BACKGROUND: Repeat endoscopic dilatations of dominant strictures (DS) have been reported to be of benefit in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). We aimed to determine the prevalence of DS in patients with PSC and the spontaneous course of ALP and bilirubin, up to a year from diagnosis in patients ...

BACKGROUND: A dilated common bile duct and/or elevated serum alkaline phosphatase, raises a suspicion of bile duct stone(s) in patients with gallstones. Cholangiography, either endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), is the best method for diagnosing bile duct stones. ERCP has the disadvantage of being invasive, and ...

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) as a single method for diagnosing cholecystolithiasis in patients with a clinical suspicion of cholecystolithiasis, but with a normal transabdominal ultrasonography (TUS). METHODS: A prospective study was performed on patients with biliary type of colic and normal US ...

PURPOSE: We determined whether the biochemical and physicochemical backgrounds of patients with brushite stones differ from those with hydroxyapatite and calcium oxalate stones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From a computer data base of patients completing ambulatory evaluation 19 with brushite stones, 24 with hydroxyapatite stones and 762 with calcium oxalate stones ...

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM: Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) or cholecystectomy can prevent recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) in patients with gallstone-related pancreatitis. However, it is unknown whether cholecystectomy after ES offers additional benefit in preventing RAP in these patients. This is a retrospective study to assess whether cholecystectomy can decrease the incidence ...

OBJECTIVE: To determine the presenting symptoms, complications, stone coincidence in the adult patients with primary ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction seen at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, (KAUH) Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we are also reporting the success rate and long term results of adult pyeloplasty. METHODS: We reviewed the records ...

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Quantitative hepatobiliary scintigraphy (QHBS) is a valuable method for the detection of a low-grade biliary obstruction in patients with suspected sphincter of Oddi (SO) dysfunction (SOD), though the relatively low specificity of this noninvasive test has been criticized. The aim of the present study was a critical assessment of ...