Retrograde transpapillary cholangioscopy can be safely performed by use of a mother-baby-scope system after endoscopic sphincterotomy. Improved endoscopes are now available and may lead to a better acceptance of this technique. Cholangioscopy is
complementary to cholangiography for differential diagnosis of various types of bile duct lesions. From march 1992 to September 1994, we performed 15 cases of peroral cholangioscopy for evaluation of bile duct lesions.
Indications of peroral cholangioscopy were 6 cases of benign biliary diseases and 9 cases of malignant biliary diseases. In benign diseases, two cases of extrahepatic bile duct stones, l case of intrahepatic duct stone with stricture, 2 cases of
benign
elevated lesions of bile duct and l case of occluded expandable metallic stent were involved. In malignant diseases, 7 cases of primary bile duct cancer, 2 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma with bile duct invasion were involved. By use of peroral
cholangioscopy with biopsy, differential diagnosis of bile duct lesion was possible.
As a complication, sever abdominal pain and hypotension was developed in one case during the procedure and in another case, cholangitis was developed after the procedure.
In conclusion, peroral cholangioscopy is a safe and useful procedure in various types of biliary diseases especially in the differential diagnosis of malignancy. (Kor J Gastrointest Endosc 16:49~54, 1996)
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