[Radiologic diagnosis of the gallbladder and bile ducts. 2: Extra- and intrahepatic obstruction, value of diagnostic methods]

[Inflammatory diseases of the gall bladder and biliary system. II. Acute and chronic inflammation of the biliary system--primary biliary cirrhosis]

Inflammatory diseases of the biliary tract are divided into acute and chronic forms. Acute inflammation of the biliary tree is ascending cholangitis. Among chronic forms of the disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis, parasitic infection of the biliary tract, AIDS cholangiopathy, and chemotherapy cholangitis are recognised. Primary biliary cirrhosis and chronic inflammation of the papilla are also categorized within this group of inflammatory diseases of the biliary tree. Cross-sectional imaging modalities, such as sonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, offer numerous possibilities for depicting the biliary system with high diagnostic accuracy. In contrast to the gallbladder, invasive imaging modalities of the biliary tree are also used for diagnostic purposes in addition to their therapeutic aspects.

[Inflammatory diseases of the gall bladder and biliary system. I. Imaging--cholelithasis--inflammation of the gall bladder]

Cholelithiasis is the most common affliction of the gallbladder and biliary tract. Including its complications, gallstone disease represents the basis for cholecystitis and cholangitis in the majority of cases. Inflammatory diseases of the biliary system are divided into acute and chronic forms originating from the gallbladder as well as from the biliary tract. Although acute calculous cholecystitis is the most common form, gangrenous, and emphysematous inflammation of the gallbladder as well as gallbladder empyema are included in this group of diseases. In the chronic forms, calculous and acalculous inflammation is also differentiated. Recent developments in cross-sectional imaging in sonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging offer numerous tools for depicting the biliary system with high diagnostic accuracy. Invasive imaging modalities of the biliary system are mainly used for therapeutic aspects.