Choledocholithiasis: evaluation with MR cholangiography.

The Value of Magnetic Resonance Cholangio-Pancreatography (MRCP) in the Detection of Choledocholithiasis

“…An improved MR cholangiographic performance was achieved by using the breathhold single-shot half-Fourier sequence with a phased array coil. With this technique, the reported sensitivity was 92%-100% [18]. In the present study, a single-shot half-Fourier sequence and a phased-array coil were used in all patients, and results were similar to those of other studies in which a similar technique was used.…”

“…Most of the large series have reported sensitivities which ranged from 81-100%, specificities which ranged from 85-100% and diagnostic accuracies which ranged from 89-100% in the MRCP diagnosis of choledocholithiasis [16][17][18][19][20]. In the studies in which an MR cholangiography was performed with a two-dimensional fast or turbo spin-echo sequence and a standard body coil, the sensitivity of MR cholangiography in the detection of CBD stones was reported to range from 57% to 92%.…”

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography: A useful tool in the evaluation of pancreatic and biliary disorders

“…By using heavily T2 weighted sequences, the signal of static or slow-moving fluid-filled structures such as the bile and pancreatic ducts is greatly increased, resulting in increased duct-to-background contrast. Recent studies have shown that MRCP is comparable with invasive retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for diagnosis of extrahepatic bile duct and pancreatic duct abnormalities such as choledocholithiasis [1][2][3] , malignant obstruction of the bile and pancreatic ducts [1,2] , congenital anomalies [1,4] , and chronic pancreatitis [5,6] . Common indications for MRCP usually include unsuccessful ERCP or a contraindication to ERCP and the presence of biliary-enteric anastomoses.…”

The efficacy of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in assessing the etiology of acute idiopathic pancreatitis

“…In our study which comprised 50 patients of idiopathic pancreatitis, we attempted to assess the utility of MRCP in evaluating the cause of idiopathic pancreatitis. An MRCP is a non-invasive exploration which has also proved its value in diagnosing entities responsible for an attack of acute pancreatitis such as choledocholithiasis, chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic duct strictures or stones, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and anatomic anomalies [11][12][13][14][15][16][17].…”

“…Despite the accuracy of sonography and computed tomography scan, these imaging modalities are inferior to MRCP in diagnosis of choledocholithiasis [12][13][14]. Moon et al in their study on bile duct stones in suspected biliary pancreatitis revealed that overall agreement between MRCP and ERCP was 90.6% for detection of bile duct stones and concluded that MRCP can be used to select patients with biliary pancreatitis who require ERCP for intervention [18].…”