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World J Gastrointest Endosc. May 16, 2013; 5(5): 203-210
Published online May 16, 2013. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v5.i5.203
Single operator choledochoscopy and its role in daily endoscopy routine
Arthur Hoffman, Johannes Wilhelm Rey, Ralf Kiesslich
Arthur Hoffman, Johannes Wilhelm Rey, Ralf Kiesslich, Department of Interal Medicine, St. Mary Hospital, Frankfurt am Main, 60318 Hessen, Germany
Author contributions: Hoffman A designed research and wrote the paper; Rey JW wrote the paper; Kiesslich R designed research.
Correspondence to: Dr. Arthur Hoffman, Department of Interal Medicine, St. Mary Hospital, Richard-Wagner Str.14, Frankfurt am Main, 60318 Hessen, Germany. ahoff66286@aol.com
Telephone: +49-6131-177299 Fax: +49-6131-175552
Received: December 19, 2012
Revised: January 5, 2013
Accepted: March 6, 2013
Published online: May 16, 2013
Core Tip

Core tip: To date, technical restrictions of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopan-creatogram may explain the insufficient sensitivity of diagnostics when biliary changes are suspected. Therefore choledochoscopy may be a direct diagnostic procedure to help. SpyGlassTM is a technically advanced cholangioscopy system facilitating diagnostics in the bile duct due to its single-operator feature. Different studies reported a clearly enhance diagnostic accuracy for this technique. However, the visualization of bile duct lesions itself is of great value since it offers precise dignity evaluation based on macroscopic criteria.