Abstract The author reports his experiences with a technique which is extremely helpful not only in distinguishing between intra- and extrahepatic cholestasis but also in establishing preoperatively the aetiology of the jaundice, in this way helping the surgeon to choose the best surgical procedure. The technique employed, the criteria of selection of the patients, the complications, and the results obtained in 53 patients are described. To date, 53 patients have undergone percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, and a total of 56 examinations have been performed in the radiography department under local anaesthesia. In 1 patient a severe bile leakage occurred with signs and symptoms of biliary peritonitis and peralytic lesions. The biliary tree was outlined in 41 patients out of 47 (87.2 per cent) with obstructive jaundice. In 6 patients the method failed (12.8 per cent).