Objective:evaluate the diagnostic use of 16-slice CT cholangiography with multiplanar reformation(MPR)for the assessment of patients with biliary obstruction.Methods:16-slice CT cholangiography with the MPR technique was performed in 60 patients who were thought to have biliary obstruction.No cholangiographic contrast agent was administered.MRCP in 24 patients

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)in 16 patients

and 28 patients underwent biopsy or surgery.The findings on 16-slice CT cholangiography were compared with those of MRCP

ERCP

biopsy or surgery.the surgical-pathological result was regarded as gold standard.Results:The findings were as follows:choledocholithiasi(sn=34)

malignant stricture(n=14)

benign stricture(n=2)

and cholelithiasi(sn=1).A small common bile duct stone in one patient could not be detected by 16-slice CT cholangiography.Two patients with initial diagnoses of small common bile duct stone by 16-slice CT cholangiography were disclosed to have malignant bile ductstricture by reference examination.The accuracy of 16-slice CT cholangiography for the diagnoses of bile duct stones and bile duct stricture were 91.1% and 88.9% respectively.Conclusion:16-slice CT cholangiography with the MPR technique is a fast and non-invasive technique with relatively high accuracy for the diagnoses of the causes of biliary obstruction.