Table 1.
Demographic characteristics of the two groups n (%)
| First group | Second group (control) | P value | |
| Patients | 25 | 25 | |
| Sex, male/female | 11/14 | 11/14 | 13 |
| Median age (yr) | 71 (range 49-89) | 76 (range 44-94) | 0.494 |
| ERCP indication | |||
| Stent removal | 4 (16) | - | |
| Biliary colic | 5 (20) | 17 (68) | 0.013 |
| Biliary pancreatitis | 1 (4) | 2 (8) | |
| Acute cholangitis | 15 (60) | 6 (24) | |
| Previous biliary operation1 | 19 (76) | 6 (24) | 0.0013 |
| Dilated bile ducts (ultrasound) | 14 (56) | 18 (72) | 0.233 |
| Median time from ES (mo)2 | 42 (range 8-144) | - |
1
Previous biliary operations were laparoscopic or open cholecystectomies;
2
This is the median time since prior endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) that cytology brushing was performed;
3
Estimated P values were calculated using the χ2 test;
4
Estimated P value was calculated using the Mann-Whitney test. ERCP: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.