Is there a role for cholangioscopy in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis?

OBJECTIVES: Assess the role of cholangioscopy in primary sclerosing cholangitis for 1) detection of cholangiocarcinoma using cholangioscopy-assisted biopsy 2) detection of stones not seen on cholangiography 3) stone removal with cholangioscopy-directed lithotripsy.

METHODS: Prospective cohort of consecutive patients referred for cholangioscopy to evaluate dominant strictures or stones. A data collection sheet was employed. Follow-up was by chart review/phone contact. Clinical improvement was defined as resolution of jaundice or > or =50% reduction in pain or cholangitis episodes requiring hospitalization.

RESULTS: 41 patients (30M, 11F) had 60 cholangioscopy procedures (55 per oral, 5 percutaneous). 33/41 (80%) patients underwent 44 tissue sampling events.

HISTOLOGY: positive for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (N = 1), negative/atypical (N = 31), and inadequate (N = 1). Stones were found in 23/41 (56%) patients, of which 7/23 (30%) were missed on cholangiography and detected only by cholangioscopy. 9/23 (39%) underwent cholangioscopy-directed lithotripsy. Stone clearance: complete (N = 10, 7 by cholangioscopy-directed lithotripsy after failed conventional stone extraction); partial (N = 7); and not attempted (N = 6). Median follow-up was 17.0 months (range 1-56). Clinical improvement was achieved in 25/40 (63%). Eight patients have undergone transplant and cholangiocarcinoma was present in the explant of two at 1 and 12 months post-cholangioscopy, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first series of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis undergoing cholangioscopy for the evaluation of dominant strictures and cholangioscopy-directed stone therapy with demonstrable clinical benefits. Stones detected by cholangioscopy were missed by cholangiography in nearly one of three patients. Cholangioscopy-directed lithotripsy may be superior to conventional ERCP for achieving complete stone clearance. Despite the use of cholangioscopy, diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma remains technically challenging.