OBJECTIVE: The role of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in mild @entity656 is controversial. This study examined the results of ERCP in @entity1 with predicted mild disease and analysed biochemical and imaging findings in relation to the occurrence of @entity2877 . @entity1 AND METHODS: There were 172 consecutive @entity1 , admitted between January 1998 and December 2000, with the diagnosis of acute @entity788 . All @entity1 were investigated using transcutaneous ultrasonography and ERCP if biliary aetiology was suspected. Serum @entity648 and alkaline phosphatase were measured, together with abdominal ultrasonographic findings, as potential predictors for @entity2877 . RESULTS: @entity1608 was the aetiology in 62.8% of @entity1 (108/172). Among these 108 @entity1 , 79.6% (86/108) suffered from mild disease. There were only 80 @entity1 who underwent ERCP, and the incidence of @entity2877 was 45% (36/80). Although significant correlation was shown between all three measured parameters ( @entity648 , alkaline phosphatase and ultrasonographic abnormalities) and @entity2877 , their individual sensitivities, specificities and predictive values were low. Nonetheless, if all three tests were normal, the incidence of ductal stones was significantly lower than that in cases with abnormalities in any one of these parameters (4.8% vs 59.3%). CONCLUSION: Routine ERCP is not recommended for @entity1 with mild, @entity656 when there is no biochemical derangement or ultrasonographic evidence of a dilated biliary system.

Role of ERCP in the management of predicted mild XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'PATIENTS'] @entity788 :: ('MESH:D010190', 'Disease') :: ['pancreatitis'] @entity656 :: ('MESH:D019283', 'Disease') :: ['acute biliary pancreatitis'] @entity648 :: ('MESH:D001663', 'Chemical') :: ['bilirubin'] @entity1608 :: ('MESH:D002137', 'Disease') :: ['Biliary calculus'] @entity2877 :: ('MESH:D042883', 'Disease') :: ['choledocholithiasis']
@entity656 :: (MESH:D019283,Disease) :: ['acute biliary pancreatitis']
