The imaging and differential diagnosis of sclerosing cholangitis / 中国医学装备

ABSTRACT

Sclerosing cholangitis includes a spectrum of chronic, variably progressive cholestatic liver disease characterized by inflammation, fibrosis and stricture of the intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts. Sclerosing cholangitis can be divided into primary sclerosing cholangitis of unidentified etiology and secondary sclerosing cholangitis caused by various identifiable etiologies, including immunoglobulin G4-related sclerosing cholangitis, recurrent pyogenic cholangitis, ischemic cholangitis, acquired immunodeficiency syndromerelated cholangitis and eosinophilic cholangitis. In this article, we describe the imaging findings of the various spectrums of sclerosing cholangitis with anemphasis on a systemic approach in differential diagnosis. It is very important for magnetic resonance cholangiography and endoscopic cholangiography in imaging diagnosis and differential diagnosis of sclerosing cholangitis. We also discuss the clinical significance and therapeutic options for treating sclerosing cholangitis.