Postgraduate Medical Journal of NAMS Ultra-Sonographic Prediction of The Causes & Level of Obstruction in the Diagnosis of Obstructive Jaundice

IntroductIon: Jaundice is a clinical condition in which the body fluid and tissue, particularly skin, eyes takes on yellowish color as a result of excess of bilirubin. The evaluation of patient with surgical Jaundice frequently involves the stepwise performance of several imaging techniques. This study is to provide sufficient diagnostic and anatomic information to allow appropriate treatment and to evaluate the predictive value of USG in the diagnosis of causes and level of obstruction. Methods: In a non randomized prospective study of 35 cases with bile duct obstruction different radiological modalities were compared for their capability to demonstrate the level and cause of obstruction. result: The level of obstruction was correctly indicated by USG in 94%, by PTC in 91 % and by CT in 83%. The cause of obstruction was correctly indicated by USG in 83%, PTC in 68 % and CT in 58 % of the patient. dIscussIon: Several modalities have been suggested for the diagnosis of suspected bile duct obstruction & biliary tree malignancy among them USG is the initial most useful modality to confirm or exclude the cause & level of obstruction. conclusIon: USG when combined with CT, the accuracy of diagnosis is more than 98%.PTC & ERCP are useful in equivocal cases