Korean J Gastrointest Endosc.  1993 Sep;13(3):567-572.

Significance of Microscopic Examination of Bile Directly Collected during Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiography

• Lee HS
• Kim CD
• Hyun JH

Abstract

The usefulness of microscopic examination of pure bile directly collected from the biliary tract during endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and without hormonal stimulation was evaluated in 86 patients. Cholesterol monohydrate crystal and/or calcium bilirubinate granule were observed in the bile of 64% of GB stones, 88% of CBD stones and l00% of IHD stones. But only 4% of non stone control group were positive crystals examinations. According to this results, microscopic examinations:of bile samples collected during endoscopic retrograde cholangiography exhibited a sensitivity and a specificity for cholelithiasis recognition of 82.3% and 95.8%, respectively, with a positive and negative predictive value of 98.1% and 67.6%, respectively. We conclude that microscopic bile examinations of bile samples collected during ERC is useful to investigate in patients with suspected cholelithiasis.

Keyword

Biliary crystals; Gallstones; ERCP

MeSH Terms

Bile*
Biliary Tract
Bilirubin
Cholangiography*
Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde
Cholelithiasis
Cholesterol
Gallstones
Humans
Sensitivity and Specificity
Bilirubin
Cholesterol