Cholangiography

The testing of the biliary tree (commonly called a bile duct) by radiology. Intravenous cholangiography IVC, was a previously used method which has been largely replaced by cholangiography. There are at least two kinds of cholangiography:

• percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC): Examination of liver and bile ducts by radiology accomplished by the insertion of a thin needle into the liver carrying a contrast medium to help to see blockage in liver and bile ducts.
• endoscopic retrograde choledochography (ERC)

In both cases the usage of fluorescent fluids are used to create contrasts that make the diagnosis possible.