1.   Histology of the liver showed features of biliary obstruction with fibrous portal expansion, bile ductular proliferation, cholestasis, and occasional bile infarcts.

2.   Whether the biliary obstruction caused by sclerosing cholangitis was self limiting or brought into remission by steroid treatment is unclear.

3.   Their patients had overlap fibrotic syndromes with biliary obstruction caused by sclerosing cholangitis, and in both cases this was relieved by steroid treatment.

4.   Twenty patients with chronic pancreatitis and signs of biliary obstruction were treated by endoscopic placement of self expandable metal mesh stents, and followed up prospectively.

5.   As biliary obstruction can lead to secondary biliary cirrhosis or recurrent episodes of cholangitis, surgical treatment has been recommended for stricture associated with persistent cholestasis.

6.   This is an extremely valuable marker of significant biliary obstruction, which may lead to the development of hepatic damage and secondary biliary cirrhosis.

7.   Thus this approach may be considered both safe and effective as a temporary measure to relieve stone related biliary obstruction.

8.   Prophylactic antibiotics are therefore advisable in those patients found to have biliary obstruction and mandatory in those in whom the duct has not been cleared.

9.   Most patients with malignant biliary obstruction in whom a large diameter plastic stent is inserted, die from their tumour while their first stent is still patient.

10.   Baron et al compared the value of ultrasound and computed tomography in patients with suspected biliary obstruction.