Do all patients with abnormal intraoperative cholangiogram merit endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography?
One-third of patients with an abnormal IOC have a normal postoperative ERCP. Elevated liver function tests can help to identify patients who merit further evaluation by ERCP. The use of less invasive methods such as endoscopic ultrasound or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography should be considered for patients with normal liver function tests to minimize unnecessary ERCPs.
These results lend further support to a possible link between CF mutations and ABPA.