Diagnosis of biliary atresia: Relative accuracy of percutaneous liver biopsy, open liver biopsy, and operative cholangiography

Abstract

Following necropsy or a minimum of three years of clinical observation an ultimate diagnosis of either biliary atresia or neonatal hepatitis was established in 108 infants with obstructive neonatal jaundice. In this group, the diagnostic accuracy of contemporary percutaneous (needle) liver biopsy and operative (open) liver biopsy was approximately the same. One third of the cases were not correctly identified. Operative cholangiograms usually dictated a correct course of clinical management, but 20 per cent suggested the incorrect diagnosis.