Air within the biliary tree is called which of the following?

Air within the biliary tree is called which of the following?

• A. Pneumobilia
• B. Cholangitis
• C. Cholelithiasis
• D. Biliary Spasm

Answer: (A)

Air within the bile ducts is called pneumobilia. This gas in the biliary tree indicates that air has entered the ducts, usually from a prior biliary procedure (like ERCP), a biliary-enteric connection, or a fistula such as from gallstone disease (gallstone ileus). On imaging, pneumobilia appears as gas within the intrahepatic ducts, which you can see as radiolucent lines on X-ray or CT, and as bright foci with characteristic artifacts on ultrasound. The other conditions refer to stones, infection, or muscle or smooth muscle activity, none of which describe gas in the biliary system.

Air within the bile ducts is called pneumobilia. This gas in the biliary tree indicates that air has entered the ducts, usually from a prior biliary procedure (like ERCP), a biliary-enteric connection, or a fistula such as from gallstone disease (gallstone ileus). On imaging, pneumobilia appears as gas within the intrahepatic ducts, which you can see as radiolucent lines on X-ray or CT, and as bright foci with characteristic artifacts on ultrasound. The other conditions refer to stones, infection, or muscle or smooth muscle activity, none of which describe gas in the biliary system.