[Diseases and diagnosis of the biliary system : When does the gastroenterologist need the radiologist?].

CLINICAL ISSUE: Biliary diseases require fast and rational use of diagnostic tests by both gastroenterologists and radiologists.

STANDARD TREATMENT: Standard diagnostic workup includes transabdominal ultrasound, endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC), endoscopic ultrasound, direct cholangioscopy, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRI/MRCP), and computed tomography (CT).

TREATMENT INNOVATIONS: Modular cholangioscopy is a novel diagnostic method.

DIAGNOSTIC WORK-UP: The goal of diagnostic examinations is the determination of the location of obstructions and differentiation of benign from malignant lesions.

ACHIEVEMENTS: Transabdominal ultrasound is risk-free and can show the gallbladder in great detail providing high diagnostic accuracy in most conditions. Endoscopic ultrasound, ERC and/or cholangioscopy are powerful tools to investigate the large bile ducts but are associated with inherent procedural risks.

PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS: Gall bladder diseases can often be diagnosed with transabdominal ultrasound alone. Bile duct disease often requires the use of endoscopic ultrasound, ERC and/or cholangioscopy.