MR has a higher sensitivity than US for diagnosing acute cholecystitis and, with increased accessibility, may be the first imaging method.

MR has a higher sensitivity than US for diagnosing acute cholecystitis and, with increased accessibility, may be the first imaging method.

MR imaging has a role in the non-invasive radiographic arsenal of techniques to confirm or exclude the diagnosis of acute cholangitis, especially in older patients where the clinical symptoms may be vague.

MR had a higher sensitivity than US for diagnosing biliary tract disease and MR was superior to US in visualising stones in the common bile duct and in diagnosing the cause of cholestasis. However, screening with US and supplemental MR in non-diagnostic cases is at present most cost-effective. With increased accessibility and slightly lower costs, MR will probably replace US as screening method in patients with suspected biliary tract disease.

MR is very sensitive in detecting fluid collections. Early MR findings following cholecystectomy are normally only subtle changes, mainly in the gallbladder fossa. Fluid collections diagnosed elsewhere than in the gallbladder fossa usually indicate a surgical complication and a surgical complication is unlikely if MR fails to show a fluid collection.