Biliary tract surgeons live in a symbiotic relationship with radiologists. So close is their professional metabolic activity that neither can function well alone. It is prudent, therefore, for general surgeons to remain knowledgeable about the capabilities and limitations of their colleagues in this fast-moving field of diagnostic and invasive biliary tract radiology.
This book, edited by three prestigious radiologists, was designed for consumption by radiologists, but we surgeons will do well to peep over their shoulders to find out what they are writing. This is a second edition of a book published way back in 1977—seven years ago which, in this field, is about as archaic as the Smith papyrus. Merely listing some of the chapter headings serves to remind us of advances during these past few years. They include biliary ultrasonography, computed tomographic scanning, cholescintigraphy, transhepatic cholangiography, and transhepatic intervention. As these and other techniques emerge, other classic