ANATOMIC VARIANTS OF THE EXTRAHEPATIC BILE-DUCTS WITH EMPHASIS ON 3D SURFACE IMAGING

The anatomy of the biliary tract and particularly the extrahepatic bil e ducts have gained renewed interest with the development of low invas ive laparoscopic biliary surgery.(1-4) Severe complications after lapa roscopic cholecystectomy have been reported,(5-8) including trocar inj uries, bleeding, common bile duct laceration, retained stones, abdomin al abscesses and vascular occlusion by ligation of the hepatic artery and the portal vein. Therefore, the assessment of the biliary system p rior to such interventions requires a subtle analysis, not only concer ning the pathology, but also the presence of deviations from the norma l anatomy. The surgeons demand from the radiologist a reliable documen tation of possible obstacles or causes for complications. This survey describes the tools available to diagnostic radiology to delineate the normal anatomy and its variations.