RESUMO
A series of 390 patients with clinical jaundice were studied to categorise the aetiology of jaundice and evaluate the various diagnostic parameters. The cause was hepatocellular disease in 209 [53.6%] obstructive in 106 [27.2%], haemolytic in 41 [10.5%] and miscellaneous, in 34 [8.7%] patients. Initial clinical assessment has identified the aetiology in 78.2% of patients whereas biochemical liver function tests were not significantly discriminant among the various groups. In cholestatic jaundice, ultrasound was diagnostic in 92% and PTC in 93.8% of patients, whereas liver biopsy was diagnostic in all patients examined. It is recommended that to establish the cause of jaundice, the initial assessment is by full clinical evaluation and a screening biochemical and haematological profile. In cholestatic jaundice US may be needed and when still necessary more invasive techniques as liver biopsy and PTC can be performed