[Treatment of duodenal ulcer with synthetic depot secretin - a double-blind study].

63 inpatients with duodenal ulcer disease were treated with either depot-secretin or placebo. Two different secretin-regimens were used. In group I 18 patients were given secretin twice daily.

[Sonographic diagnosis in cholestasis (author's transl)].

In a prospective study, sonographic diagnosis was compared in 156 patients having jaundice or showing clinico-chemical signs of cholestasis, with the final diagnosis obtained via endoscopic-retrograde cholangiography, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, surgery or autopsy. The results show that in almost 90 per cent of the cases it is possible to differentiate between intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholestasis via sonography. The limitations of sonography concern the identification of prepapillary bile duct concrements which were present in 30 per cent of the patients.

[Extraintestinal manifestations of Crohn's disease].

Specific extraintestinal manifestations of Crohn's disease are rare except the involvement of the anal region. Only few case reports have been published concerning Crohn's disease of the lips, the mouth, the hypopharynx, the skin, urogenital tract, bone and joints. However, Crohn's disease of the anal region is of great significance.

[Biliary peritonitis after percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography with the Chiba technique (author's transl)].

The Chiba technique of percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) can be easily learned and does not require much technical equipment; it is thus widely used now in the diagnosis of suspected obstructive jaundice. The procedure is generally regarded as safe; thus standby availability of a surgical outfit is not considered to be necessary. However fever, cholangitis, septicemia, biliary peritonitis and bleeding have been reported in patients who underwent PTC.