The left subphrenic crescent sign in direct cholangiography.

Left subdiaphragmatic collections of contrast medium were demonstrated in three patients during cholangiography. All the patients had undergone previous surgery for either biliary, gallbladder or pancreatic disease. The shape of the collections was crescentic and the underlying abnormality was an anterior subdiaphragmatic abscess. Left subphrenic abscesses should therefore be considered when crescentic left subphrenic accumulations of contrast medium occur during cholangiography.