'''Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography''', '''percutaneous hepatic cholangiogram''', or '''percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and drainage''' ('''PTHC''') is a radiological technique used to visualize the [[anatomy]] of the [[biliary tract]]. A [[contrast medium]] is injected into a bile duct in the [[liver]], after which [[X-ray]]s are taken. It allows access to the biliary tree in cases where [[endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography]] has been unsuccessful. Initially reported in 1937, the procedure became popular in 1952.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Carter RF, Saypol GM |title=Transabdominal cholangiography |journal=Journal of the American Medical Association |volume=148 |issue=4 |pages=253–5 |year=1952 |pmid=14888454 |doi=10.1001/jama.1952.02930040009002}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Atkinson M, Happey MG, Smiddy FG |title=Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography |journal=Gut |volume=1 |issue= 4|pages=357–65 |year=1960 |pmid=13684978 |pmc=1413224 |doi=10.1136/gut.1.4.357}}</ref>
==IndicationsUses==
Some indicationsuses for this procedure includes: drainage of bile/infected bile to relieve [[obstructive jaundice]] (known as percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, PTBD) to relieve [[obstructive jaundice]], to place a stent to dilate a stricture in the biliary system, stone removal, and rendezvous technique<ref name="Chapman 2018">{{cite book | vauthors = Watson N, Jones H |title=Chapman and Nakielny's Guide to Radiological Procedures |date=2018 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=9780702071669 |pages=112}}</ref> where guidewire from the [[common bile duct]] (CBD) meets with duodenoscope (coming from the oesophagus into the stomach and then duodenum) at the [[major duodenal papilla]]. In thethis rendezvous technique, the guidewire is then pulled into duodenoscope and a small blade is slide over the guidewire into the CBD and perform surgeries on a specific bile duct in the biliary system.<ref name="Ayala 2008">{{Cite journal |last=Ayala |first=Juan C. |last2=Labbe |first2=Ricardo |last3=Vera |first3=Juan E. |date=April 2008 |title=SHORT (SHOrt Rendezvous Technique): A New ERCP Rendezvous Technique |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0016510708007682 |journal=Gastrointestinal Endoscopy |language=en |volume=67 |issue=5 |pages=AB159–AB160 |doi=10.1016/j.gie.2008.03.351}}</ref> PTHC is frequently performed guide therapy of the biliary system. Rarely it is used for diagnostic purposes only.<ref name="Chapman 2018"/>
