Abstract
Pancreaticobiliary ductal diseases are largely investigated by indirect imaging techniques. Therefore, the pathology of up to 30% of cases remains undetermined. Cholangiopancreatoscopy allows direct visualization of ductal abnormalities with the ability to sample tissue and deliver a number of endotherapies. The technique can be broadly categorized into either two-operator or single-operator systems. Both systems provide important diagnostic information in the investigation of undetermined biliary or pancreatic strictures, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia, occult ductal malignant changes in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis and occult intraductal stones in patients with complex biliary stone diseases. Therapeutically, cholangiopancreatoscopy-guided endotherapies provide a highly effective and safe alternative to surgery for patients with difficult extrahepatic and intrahepatic ductal stones that are not amenable to conventional endoscopic extraction by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. The clinical application of cholangiopancreatoscopy, however, will be limited unless the technology is further refined to improve its durability, image quality, therapeutic capability and technical feasibility.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
