Biliary strictures: diagnostic considerations and approach

Abstract

Biliary strictures present a diagnostic challenge, especially when no etiology can be ascertained after laboratory evaluation, abdominal imaging and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) sampling. These strictures were traditionally classified as indeterminate strictures, although with advances in endoscopic techniques and better understanding of hepato-biliary pathology, more are being correctly diagnosed. The implications of missing a malignancy in patients with biliary strictures-and hence delaying surgery-are grave but a significant number of patients (up to 20%) undergoing surgery for suspected biliary malignancy can have benign pathology. The diagnostic approach to these patients involves detailed history and physical examination and depends on the presence or absence of jaundice, level of obstruction, and presence or absence of a mass lesion. While abdominal imaging helps to find the level of obstruction and provides a 'road map' for further endoscopic investigations, tissue diagnosis is usually needed to make decisions on management. Initially ERCP was the only modality to investigate these strictures but now, with the development of endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration and the availability of newer techniques such as intraductal ultrasound, single-operator cholangioscopy and confocal laser endomicroscopy, the diagnostic approach to biliary strictures has changed significantly. In this review, we will focus on the decision-making process for patients with biliary strictures and discuss the key decision points that should dictate further diagnostic investigations at each step.

Keywords: biliary stricture; cholangioscopy; endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; endoscopic ultrasound; intraductal ultrasound; magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatography.

Figure 1.

Patient with obstructive jaundice. (a) MRCP showing a hilar stricture and proximal biliary dilatation. (b) ERCP in the same patient before and (c) after placement of two plastic biliary stents.

Figure 2.

Patient with obstructive jaundice and intrahepatic biliary dilatation noted on abdominal imaging. (a) ERCP showing a biliary stricture with intrahepatic biliary dilatation. (b) Cholangioscopy-guided intraductal biliary biopsy. (c) Fluoroscopic view of cholangioscope. (d) Adequate drainage was obtained after placement of bilateral biliary metal stents.

Figure 3.

Proposed diagnostic approach to biliary strictures. US = ultrasound; MRI/MRCP = magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography; ERCP = endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; SOC = single-operator cholangioscopy; EUS-FNA = endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration; IDUS = intraductal ultrasound; CLE = confocal laser endomicroscopy