Percutaneous management of benign biliary disease.

Thirty-two patients had percutaneous drainage for benign disease of the biliary system, and in 81% of the patients the catheter could be removed. The patients' conditions were of 3 types: choledocholithiasis, biliary strictures, and primary sclerosing cholangitis. Fourteen patients had balloon dilatation of strictures in the biliary tract. As in malignant disease, many patients may be managed entirely by percutaneous methods and surgery avoided, but the results with percutaneous drainage are more gratifying.