Published online Aug 10, 2015. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v7.i10.920
Peer-review started: January 7, 2015
First decision: March 6, 2015
Revised: March 21, 2015
Accepted: July 11, 2015
Article in press: July 14, 2015
Published online: August 10, 2015
Processing time: 223 Days and 5.5 Hours
Core tip: Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a cholestatic disease of unclear etiopathogenesis, often seen in association with inflammatory bowel disease. It is characterized by fibrosis of the intra and extra hepatic bile ducts, resulting in stricturing disease, predisposing to cholangiocarcinoma. Diagnosis requires a high index of clinical suspicion and is often made by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in the appropriate clinical context, although endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography remains the gold standard. The latter being invasive is seldom used as a diagnostic modality and is reserved for management of complications including dilatation and stenting of dominant and anastomotic strictures, brush cytology and for SpyGlass Cholangioscopy.