Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Bile and Pancreatic Ducts: A Retrospective Study

Nicolae Bolog1, Gabriel Constantinescu1, Irinel Oancea1, Mircea Beuran1, Ruxandra Albu1, Marcel Tantau2, Eugen Nicolau1, Florin Iordache1

1) Emergency Hospital Bucharest . 2) 3rd Medical Clinic, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca

Abstract

Purpose. To assess the value of magnetic resonance in the diagnosis of pancreatobiliary ductal system changes.

Material and methods. The study included 103 patients (44 men, 59 women, mean age 57, age range 1 month - 91 years) with pancreaticobiliary duct changes. The patients underwent a routine liver and pancreas MR imaging that included a MR cholangiopancreatography sequence. Comparison was made with findings at surgery, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopacreatography performed within 14 days, and follow-up, as a reference standard.

Results. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of magnetic resonance for the evaluation of lithiasis were 87%, 90.2% and 89.3% respectively; 100%, 97.8%, and 98%, respectively for cholangitis; 91.6%, 96.7% and 96,1%, for bile ducts tumors; 89.4%, 97.5%, and 96%, for chronic pancreatitis; 92.3%, 97.6%, and 96.6%, for pancreatic tumors; 88.8%, 96.4% and 95.1%, for periampullary stenosis.

Conclusion. Magnetic resonance is a reliable imaging technique for the evaluation of biliary and pancreatic ducts.

Key words

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography - lithiasis - cholangitis - cholangiocarcinoma - chronic pancreatitis - pancreatic cancer - ampullary stenosis