The Mirizzi syndrome: preoperative diagnosis by sonography and transhepatic cholangiography.

Common hepatic duct obstruction from an impacted calculus in the cystic duct is an uncommon cause of jaundice. The complimentary role of both transhepatic cholangiography and sonography can facilitate and assist the physician in making a preoperative diagnosis of Mirizzi syndrome and prevent an unnecessary choledochotomy and exploration of the common bile duct.