[Difficult diagnosis of cholelithiasis: advantages and disadvantages of laparoscopic cholangiography and ERCP. Our own experience].

On the basis of personal experience (104 LTC and 88 ERCP), the value of direct cholangiography in the diagnosis of biliary lithiasis especially in the event of failure of traditional radiology and in the presence of icterus is confirmed. LTC in 37 patients and ERCP in 18 revealed calculosis of the bile ways, thus correcting a falsely negative echography and i.v. cholangiography to the extent of 70% and 25% respectively. Stress is laid on the importance of direct cholangiography because it is able to establish the site of the stones and, above all, the pathology associated with calculosis, involving not only the bile ways, but the papilla, pancreas and liver too.