PERCUTANEOUS TRANSHEPATIC CHOLANGIOSCOPY (PTCS) - A USEFUL DIAGNOSTICPROCEDURE

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (PTCS) was performed in 53 pa tients. Biopsies of suspected malignancies of the extrahepatic biliary system yielded false negative results in 22.7%, those of Klatskin tum ours in 33.4% (in contrast to 25% and 16%, respectively, for brush cyt ology). Moreover, PTCS was used for implantation and revision of stent s: Occlusions of implants were due to granulation tissue in about the same number of cases as in overgrowth of tumour. Bleeding without a ne cessity for therapy was seen six times; one patient developed hemobili a. In spite of the relatively high number of false negative results in malignancies, for suitable indications PTCS is a valuable supplementa ry diagnostic and therapeutic procedure.