Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36104482›Full record

ArticleAbdominal radiology (New York)2022

Utilizing CT to identify clinically significant biliary dilatation in symptomatic post-cholecystectomy patients: when should we be worried?

Imo I Uko, Cecil Wood, Edward Nguyen, Annie Huang, Roberta Catania, Amir A Borhani, Jeanne M Horowitz, Helena Gabriel, Rajesh Keswani, Paul Nikolaidis and 2 more

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Abdominal radiology (New York), 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 31% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 1 institution in 2 countries.

Imo I UkoDepartment of Diagnostic Radiology, McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA. imo.uko@nm.org.ORCID 0000-0003-2011-8084
Cecil WoodDepartment of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Edward NguyenNorthwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Annie HuangNorthwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Roberta CataniaDepartment of Diagnostic Radiology, McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Amir A BorhaniDepartment of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Jeanne M HorowitzDepartment of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Helena GabrielDepartment of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Rajesh KeswaniDepartment of Internal Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Paul NikolaidisDepartment of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Frank H MillerDepartment of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Linda C KelahanDepartment of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Northwestern University · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo determine a reliable threshold common duct diameter on CT, in combination with other ancillary CT and clinical parameters, at which the likelihood of pathology requiring further imaging or intervention is increased in post-cholecystectomy patients.

methodsIn this IRB approved retrospective study, two attending radiologists independently reviewed CT imaging for 118 post-cholecystectomy patients, who were subsequently evaluated with MRCP, ERCP, or EUS, prompted by findings on the CT and clinical status. Measurements of the common duct (CD) were obtained at the porta hepatis, distal duct, and point of maximal dilation on axial and coronal CT scans. Patients were grouped by whether they required intervention after follow-up imaging. Pertinent baseline lab values and patient demographics were reviewed.

resultsOf the 118 post-cholecystectomy patients, 38 patients (31%) required intervention, and 80 patients (69%) did not require intervention after follow-up imaging. For both readers, axial and coronal CD diameters were significantly higher in the 'intervention required' vs 'no intervention' groups at all locations (p value < 0.05). There was good to excellent inter-reader agreement at all locations (ICC 0.68-0.92). Pertinent baseline lab values including AST (p = 0.043), ALT (p = 0.001), alkaline phosphatase (p = 0.0001), direct bilirubin (p = 0.011), total bilirubin (p = 0.028), and WBC (p = 0.043) were significantly higher in the 'intervention required' group. CD thresholds of 8 mm yielded the highest sensitivities (76-95%), and CD thresholds of 12 mm yielded the highest specificities (65-78%). CD combined with bilirubin levels increased sensitivity and specificity, compared to using either feature alone.

conclusionDilated CD on CT combined with bilirubin levels increases the sensitivity and specificity for identifying patients needing intervention. We recommend that a post-cholecystectomy patient who presents with a CD diameter > 10 mm on CT and elevated bilirubin levels should undergo further clinical and imaging follow-up.

Indexed as

BilirubinCholecystectomyDilatationDilatation, PathologicHumansRetrospective StudiesTomography, X-Ray ComputedBilirubinBiliary ductal dilatationBilirubinCommon duct diameterMRCPPost-cholecystectomyUltrasound

Identifiers

PMID36104482
OpenAlexW4295779093

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.