Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in the Evaluation of Pancreaticobiliary Tract in Gallstone Disease

• Main Authors: SN Singh, Trilok C Bhatt
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: JCDR Research and Publications Pvt. Ltd. 2016-01-01
• Series: International Journal of Anatomy Radiology and Surgery
• Subjects: choledocholithaisis; cholelithiasis; common bile duct (cbd); ultrasonography
• Online Access: http://www.ijars.net/articles/PDF/2096/7-%2016692_F(GH)_PF1(Vsu_Om)_PFA(P)_PF2(PVSU).pdf
• ISSN: 2277-8543; 2455-6874

Introduction: MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography) has rapidly gained ground and has now firmly established in the evaluation of the biliary and pancreatic ducts. It often aids in the assessment of causes of biliary obstruction and can be helpful in the evaluation of the pancreatic duct without the inherent invasiveness of an endoscopic procedure. In view of limitation of USG and CT and invasiveness of PTC, IVC and ERCP there is need for an imaging modality which is non invasive and provides high resolution projection images of the biliary and pancreatic duct. Aim: The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the accuracy of MR imaging and correlate it with ultrasonography. Materials and Methods: This study included 50 patients who had undergone MRCP prior to cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstones. There were 23 males and 27 female patients, ranging in age from 8 to 87 years (mean, 63 years). Results: The predominant population in our study was adults ranging from 30 to 50 yrs of age. Majority of patients presented with epigastic pain and vomiting. The percentage rate of detection of gallstones and CBD stones were 89.75% and 76.19% on USG respectively. The same for MRCP was 87.18% and 95.24% respectively. MRCP showed high positive predictive value in diagnosing choledocholithaisis and diagnosing hepatobiliary lesions. Conclusion: MRCP now readily permits the study and evaluation of anatomy and pathology of the pancreaticobiliary tree including pancreatic duct very easily and is accurate, non-invasive and non-ionizing imaging method of pancreaticobiliary anatomy and pathology. Our results demonstrate that preoperative MRCP had a robust safe guarding effect on laparoscopic cholecystectomy and deserves further promotion. These results were also sited in other recent studies.