Medical image of the week: ascending cholangitis from biliary obstruction

A 79 year old man with a history of quadriplegia presented to an outside hospital in septic shock. He was found to have an elevated total bilirubin of 10 mg/dL, direct bilirubin of 7 mg/dL, alkaline phosphatase of 405 U/L, and lipase of 370 U/L. Imaging showed cholelithiasis with likely intra- and extrahepatic biliary duct dilatation. The patient underwent placement of a biliary drain with clinical improvement. Additional imaging was requested prior to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), but magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) was unavailable due to metallic implants. Interventional radiology performed a cholangiogram using the biliary drain which confirmed biliary obstruction. ERCP was then performed, with significant biliary sludge found and two stents placed.