TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 11. Liver, Biliary Tract, and Pancreas A1 - Caserta, Melanie P. A1 - Chaudhry, Fakhra A1 - Bechtold, Robert E. A2 - Chen, Michael Y.M. A2 - Pope, Thomas L. A2 - Ott, David J. PY - 2011 T2 - Basic Radiology, 2e AB - The diagnosis of diseases of the liver, biliary tract, and pancreas optimally depends on using both clinical and radiographic data. Understanding the proper use of these data and ordering radiographic studies in the optimal sequence are helpful for making the diagnosis most efficiently. Frequently, the clinical presentation and associated laboratory work provide most of the clues for diagnosis. Physical examination, history, and pertinent laboratory values are often helpful in making the diagnosis or at least in providing clues for selecting the optimal radiographic studies. If clinical information is insufficient or if radiographic confirmation is necessary, plain films and contrast studies may be performed. Upright and supine plain radiographs are helpful for the detection of free air, calcifications, and other abnormalities. Contrast studies such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) are often helpful in analyzing diseases of the liver, biliary tree, and pancreas. For instance, pancreatic or biliary ductal systems, fistulae from these ductal systems, and associated abnormalities such as encasing tumors can be diagnosed by cholangiography. SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/29 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=6671146 ER -