Complementary role of helical CT cholangiography to MR cholangiography in the evaluation of biliary function and kinetics (original) (raw)
Related papers
British Journal of Radiology, 2010
Post-cholecystectomy syndrome (PCS) is defined as a complex of heterogeneous symptoms, consisting of upper abdominal pain and dyspepsia, which recur and/or persist after cholecystectomy. Nevertheless, this term is inaccurate, as it encompasses biliary and non-biliary disorders, possibly unrelated to cholecystectomy. Biliary manifestations of PCS may occur early in the post-operative period, usually because of incomplete surgery (retained calculi in the cystic duct remnant or in the common bile duct) or operative complications, such as bile duct injury and/or bile leakage. A later onset is commonly caused by inflammatory scarring strictures involving the sphincter of Oddi or the common bile duct, recurrent calculi or biliary dyskinesia. The traditional imaging approach for PCS has involved ultrasound and/or CT followed by direct cholangiography, whereas manometry of the sphincter of Oddi and biliary scintigraphy have been reserved for cases of biliary dyskinesia. Because of its capability to provide non-invasive highquality visualisation of the biliary tract, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) has been advocated as a reliable imaging tool for assessing patients with suspected PCS and for guiding management decisions. This paper illustrates the rationale for using MRCP, together with the main MRCP biliary findings and diagnostic pitfalls.
Biliary imaging: magnetic resonance cholangiography versus endoscopic retrograde cholangiography
Journal of Hepatology, 1999
HE TECHNIQUES used for imaging of the biliary tree show continuing and rapid development. Ultrasonography has been improved considerably and is an easily accessible and cheap initial step in diagnosing biliary diseases; image processing may further increase its usefulness. Computerized tomography, and more recently magnetic resonance imaging, have tremendously improved noninvasive imaging of the biliary tree (1-7). Since its introduction in the 1970s, endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) has been the gold standard for imaging of the bile ducts. The number of purely diagnostic ERC's, however, has been declining in recent years, at least in larger centres. The possibility of combining a diagnostic approach with a therapeutic procedure in a single session is the major advantage of ERC. But even when used in a purely diagnostic approach, ERC may occasionally cause fatal complications. With the advent of magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) in the early 1990s (8), the future role of diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiography has been questioned. MRC images are accomplished by acquiring heavily T2-weighted MR sequences. To elucidate the technique in brief, the heavily T2-weighted sequences result in a high signal intensity of stationary or slowly moving fluids like bile, but in a low signal intensity of solid organs or of rapidly moving fluids. Hence, the portal vein and the hepatic artery will show signal void (9,10). Fast spin-echo sequences reduce the time required for image acquisition, and enhance the visualization of the
Minerva medica, 2009
Haemobilia is a rare cause of unrecognized gastrointestinal bleeding and is hard to diagnose. Through the present case report we aim to corroborate magnetic resonance relevance in the evaluation of biliary system and bile features, investigating on its role in patients with acute biliary diseases. We report a case of a Caucasian 48-year-old man who was admitted due to abdominal pain and fever. After an ultrasonography exam we detected multiple cysts in the hepatic left lobe: imaging features, laboratory findings, and patient past work experience (woodcutter) suggested a diagnosis of hepatic Echinococcosis. Once surgery decision was taken, patient underwent an intervention of cystopericystectomy. On the 8th postoperative day, the procedure was complicated by black stool, jaundice, and severe anaemia. Acomputed tomography revealed an inhomogeneous collection with some air bubbles in the area of previous surgical intervention, but it was not able to solve the diagnosis question. At this stage a magnetic resonance study was mandatory. On T2-weighted images we observed an expanse gallbladder with hypointense intraluminal material and a considerable intrahepatic biliary system dilatation due to bloody material. On the basis of these examination results, we supposed haemobilia arising from previous surgical intervention. A therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedure led to decompression of biliary system through a major papilla sphincterotomy with spillage of bile mixed with blood clots.
Background: Accurate diagnostic methods to detect biliary tract disorders and pancreatic disease in patients presenting with obstructive jaundice are critical for operating surgeon to carry out appropriate treatment. Therefore, surgeons elect the non-invasive, highly sensitive as well as safe diagnostic modality in diagnosing biliary tract disorder as the operative approach varies highly depending on the course and cause of obstruction. Material & Methods: In present cross-sectional study 100 patients of different age groups, having clinical sign and symptoms of biliary tract disease were included in the study after obtaining approval from the institutional ethics committee. Patients with cardiac pacemakers, prosthetic heart valves and cochlear implant or having any metallic implant were excluded from the study. Results: 46 patients (46%) fallowed by choledochal cyst (congenital) in 28 patients (28%) and gall bladder masses in 7 patients (7%). In present study, patients of biliary t...
Gastroenterology and hepatology from bed to bench, 2013
This study was performed to compare the efficacy of preoperative magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and intra-operative cholangiography (IOC) methods in patients suspicious to gall stones. According to previous studies, it is recommended that common bile duct investigation should be done in order to rule out choledocholithiasis in all patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis. IOC is an invasive procedure with probable complications, it would seem that MRCP could replace the direct cholangiography. In a diagnostic clinical trial, Fifty-nine patients with symptomatic biliary stones or cholecystitis were recruited in this study. The included patients had normal size biliary ducts in sonography but high serum alkaline phosphatase level. Preoperative MRCP and IOC were performed for the patients and the obtained results were analyzed and compared. The positive predictive value for IOC was 88% and for MRCP was 43%. The diagnostic accuracy of IOC and MRCP were 98% and 85% re...
Role of99mTc-IDA cholescintigraphy in evaluating biliary tract disorders
Gastrointestinal Radiology, 1980
Technetium-99m IDA cholescintigraphy has provided a new, noninvasive means of visualizing biliary tract function. It has become the procedure of choice in patients with suspected acute cholecystitis because of its ability to most accurately detect functional obstruction or patency of the cystic duct as opposed to ultrasound's ability to detect only anatomic changes such as the presence of calculi or a thickened gallbladder wall. These latter findings are more important in establishing the diagnosis of chronic cholecystitis where ultrasound shares a position of prime importance with the oral cholecystogram. Tc-99m IDA cholescintigraphy has also been particularly useful in evaluating bile leaks, biliary-enteric anastomosis patency and the post-cholecystectomy patient with recurrent pain. In the patient with cholestasis, ultrasound is usually the procedure of choice since it establishes whether or not ductal dilatation is present and frequently can determine the cause of obstruction. Cholescintigraphy has played an ancillary role in many cases by demonstrating the level of partial obstruction, but it does not have the anatomic resolution to visualize the cause of obstruction. Occasionally, in the evaluation of cholestasis, cholescintigraphy has proven to be the only modality which has identified the presence of acute common duct obstruction or localized intrahepatic ductal obstruction. All in all, Tc-99m IDA cholescintigraphy has had a dramatic impact upon hepatobiliary diagnosis.
Magnetic resonance imaging in evaluation of the common bile duct
British Journal of Surgery, 1998
Background The ideal method for evaluation of the common bile duct (CBD) before or during cholecystectomy remains controversial. Magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) is a new, promising technique. A prospective evaluation is reported. Method Sixty-one patients (45 women) were studied by MRC. There were 29 patients with symptomatic gallstone disease and without clinical, biochemical or ultrasonographic evidence of CBD stones (group 1); 28 of them also underwent intraoperative cholangiography (IOC). In addition, there were 21 patients with symptomatic gallstone disease, with mild biochemical and ultrasonographic signs of CBD involvement (group 2), of whom 19 underwent IOC, and 11 patients with symptomatic CBD stones (group 3), nine of whom had preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) following MRC. Results MRC showed that no patient in group 1 and three patients in group 2 had CBD stones. Three patients (one in group 1, two in group 2) did not undergo IOC because of technical or clinical problems. In group 3, ERCP confirmed the results of MRC in nine patients. Two patients underwent open surgery because of ultrasonographic, MRC and radiographic signs of pancreatic malignancy. Conclusion MRC could replace IOC and ERCP for identification of asymptomatic CBD stones. In symptomatic patients MRC combined with other non-invasive imaging techniques can direct the surgeon to appropriate management.
Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences
BACKGROUND Acute cholecystitis is a potentially serious condition and usually needs to be treated in the hospital. Identification of a common bile duct (CBD) stone before cholecystectomy is of concern for the treating physicians as management may change. Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) can help in identifying causes of biliary obstruction (if present) and adequately delineate biliary tree in selected patients with limited or abnormal ultrasounds and cholestatic liver pattern. Therefore, we aim to demonstrate imaging findings of MRCP in such patients of acute cholecystitis, and highlight the diagnostic ability of MRCP in biliary ductal evaluation as well. METHODS This secondary data analysis from hospital records was performed in Radiology department at our Hospital in Dhahran from August 2017 to 2019. All clinically suspected and ultrasound supported cases of acute cholecystitis who were referred for MRCP studies were included. Dilated CBDs (more than 4 mm in caliber) with partial visualization or non-discernible causes of CBD dilatations, rising or persistently raised LFTs (denoting cholestatic pattern) were the common indications for the MRCP referrals. Patients with chronic cholecystitis, previous hepatobiliary surgery, pregnant patients, and those contraindicated to MRI were excluded. RESULTS Of the 104 patients, majority (60%) were females. The mean age was 43 years. Twothirds of patients were having normal CBDs (68.3%), while nearly one-third (31.7%) had dilated CBDs, and half of these (16.4%) showed identifiable causes of obstruction that were later confirmed on ERCP and histopathology. Thirteen patients (12.5%) had associated anomalies. Sensitivity and specificity of MRCP in CBD evaluation were measured as 90.5% (CI, 79.3-96.8) and 86.2% (CI, 73.7-94.3) respectively. The length of the hospital stay was found to be significantly less in laparoscopic cases compared to open cholecystectomies (P= 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography can help in identifying the causes and anomalies in patients with acute cholecystitis having deranged or obstructive liver function.
Magnetic resonance cholangiography: Comparison with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Gastroenterology, 1996
Magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) is a noninvasive diagnostic modality capable of producing high-quality images of the biliary tree. The purpose of this study was to determine in a prospective, blinded fashion the sensitivity and specificity of three-dimensional fast spin-echo (3D FSE) MRC for the evaluation of biliary tract abnormalities. Forty-six patients referred for elective direct cholangiography (45 endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and 1 percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography) were studied prospectively with 3D FSE MRC during a 1-year period. All images were interpreted blindly by two radiologists. The presence of dilatation, strictures, and intraductal abnormalities was recorded. Sensitivity and specificity of 3D FSE MRC were determined using findings on direct cholangiography as the gold standard. MRC images of diagnostic quality were obtained in 44 (95.7%) of the patients. Sensitivity for the detection of bile duct dilatation (n = 27), biliary strictures (n = 10), and intraductal abnormalities (n = 7) was 96.3%, 90%, and 100%, respectively. In addition, the MRC showed 16 of 17 patients with normal bile ducts (specificity, 94.1%). MRC has a very high sensitivity and specificity in the evaluation of the biliary tract. Based on these data, we believe that the efficacy of MRC using 3D FSE is sufficient to warrant its use in the routine diagnosis of biliary tract disease.