Role of 2ND generation contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the differential diagnosis of biliary duct diseases

The differential diagnosis of biliary duct lesions is sometime difficult to establish with need to perform several non invasive or invasive (ERCP) procedures. We report our preliminary experience with the 2nd generation contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in the evaluation of biliary duct diseases. In a three-month period, 15 patients (9 male, with age ranging from 65–87yrs) underwent ultrasonography (US) for abdominal pain and jaundice of unknown origin. All but two had also abnormal citolytic and cholestatic liver function tests. In all of them, conventional US showed dilation of secondary and/or main bil…