TY - JOUR
T1 - Role of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in the evaluation of biliary disease
AU - Al-Dhuhli, Humoud
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2009, Sultan Qaboos University. All rights reserved.
PY - 2009/12
Y1 - 2009/12
N2 - Magnetic resonace cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) was introduced in 1991, as a non-invasive method of imaging the biliary tree. Although endoscopic cholongiopancreatography (ERCP) has been the mainstay for diagnosing and treating pancreatico-biliary disease, complications such as pancreatitis, cholangitis, haemorrhage and duodenal perforation have limited its use as a routine diagnostic test. Although ERCP is still the standard of reference for imaging the pancreatico-biliary system, MRCP is the examination of choice in a setting where ERCP is difficult or impossible. It is useful in cases with severe biliary obstruction to evaluate the ducts proximal to the obstruction. MRCP has specific advantages over ERCP as it is non-invasive, cheaper, uses no radiation, requires no anaesthesia and is less operator dependent. When combined with conventional T1- and T2-weighted sequences, it allows detection of extraductal disease. The technology is still evolving to make the MRCP examination faster, sharper and with higher spatial resolution.
AB - Magnetic resonace cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) was introduced in 1991, as a non-invasive method of imaging the biliary tree. Although endoscopic cholongiopancreatography (ERCP) has been the mainstay for diagnosing and treating pancreatico-biliary disease, complications such as pancreatitis, cholangitis, haemorrhage and duodenal perforation have limited its use as a routine diagnostic test. Although ERCP is still the standard of reference for imaging the pancreatico-biliary system, MRCP is the examination of choice in a setting where ERCP is difficult or impossible. It is useful in cases with severe biliary obstruction to evaluate the ducts proximal to the obstruction. MRCP has specific advantages over ERCP as it is non-invasive, cheaper, uses no radiation, requires no anaesthesia and is less operator dependent. When combined with conventional T1- and T2-weighted sequences, it allows detection of extraductal disease. The technology is still evolving to make the MRCP examination faster, sharper and with higher spatial resolution.
KW - Biliary ducts
KW - Cholangiocarcinoma
KW - Cholangiography
KW - Gallstone
KW - Magnetic resonace cholangiopancreatography
KW - Magnetic resonance imaging
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M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84877732416
SN - 2075-051X
VL - 9
SP - 341
EP - 352
JO - Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal
JF - Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal
IS - 3
ER -