Endoscopic ultrasound elastography as a method for screening the patients with suspected primary sclerosing cholangitis

OBJECTIVESCurrently, magnetic resonance cholangiography is being used for establishing the diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis, whereas endoscopic retrograde cholangiography is reserved for therapeutic interventions. The aim of this study was to determine the role of endoscopic ultrasound elastography in the detection of inflammatory and fibrotic lesions of the common bile duct. METHODSLinear endoscopic ultrasound elastography of the common bile duct was performed in 41 patients. The patients were divided into two groupsdisease group (20 patients with both, primary sclerosing cholangitis and inflammatory bowel disease) and control group (21 patients). Main outcome measurements were diameter, wall thickness and wall qualitative Elasto Score of the common bile duct. RESULTSThe disease group consisted of nine females and 11 males, whereas the control group consisted of 13 females and eight males, with no sex differences observed (χ = 0.6, d.f. = 1, P = 0.443). There was no significant difference in the diameter of common bile duct between the studied groups4.67±1.83 mm in the disease group and 5.88±2.47 mm in controls (t = −1.77, d.f. = 39, P = 0.085). Hard or mixed Elasto Score was found in 16 patients and four controls, being significantly different compared with the soft Elasto Score found in four patients and 17 controls (χ = 1.8, d.f. = 1, P