R. Rajaram et al., Evaluation of a modified cholangiographic classification system for primary sclerosing cholangitis, ABDOM IMAG, 26(1), 2001, pp. 43-47
Background: There is no uniformly accepted classification system for the ra
nge of cholangiographic abnormalities encountered in primary sclerosing cho
langitis (PSC). The aims of this study were to evaluate a previously develo
ped classification system and to test the hypothesis that the pancreatic du
ct can be involved in PSC.
Methods: Two observers scored 132 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatog
raphies (ERCPs) from established PSC patients. From 30 patients, subsequent
ERCPs were scored and compared with the initial ERCPs. The pancreatic duct
was judged with regard to morphologic abnormalities.
Results: The classification system was applicable in 107 patients. In 10 ER
CPs (7.6%), no clear intrahepatic abnormalities were found; 15 other ERCPs
(11.4%) did not show extrahepatic abnormalities. In 30 cases, a subsequent
ERCP was judged. The difference in scoring between the initial and the subs
equent ERCPs was statistically significant, with the subsequent ERCP having
higher intrahepatic and extrahepatic scores. Sixty-four adequately filled
pancreatic ducts were analyzed. In two cases (3.1%), morphologic abnormalit
ies were found.
Conclusions: The previously developed scoring system is very applicable for
almost all PSC patients when supplemented with a type 0 category. Scoring
increased over time, suggesting a correlation with disease severity. The pa
ncreatic duct does not seem to be involved in PSC.