Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTCA)

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Gallstones, cholangiogram

Gallbladder anatomy

Overview

Risks

Results

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTCA)

Alternative Names:

Cholangiogram - PTCA; PTCA

What the risks are:

There is a slight chance of an allergic reaction to the contrast medium (iodine).

There is a slight chance of excessive blood loss, blood poisoning (sepsis), and inflammation of the bile ducts.

Special considerations:

An ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) is an invasive procedure performed to visualize the bile ducts and remove any stones. If a diagnostic ERCP cannot be performed, or has failed in the past, a PTCA may be performed.

An MRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography) is a newer, non-invasive imaging method, based on MRI, which provides similar views of the bile ducts.

Review Date: 1/24/2005
Reviewed By: Jeffrey J. Brown, M.D., F.A.C.R., Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review Provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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