Magnetic resonance imaging of bile and pancreatic ducts: a retrospective study

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

The study included 103 patients (44 men, 59 women, mean age 57, age range 1 month - 91 years) with pancreatobiliary 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.

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.

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