Magnetic resonance imaging features of small-duct primary sclerosing cholangitis

To evaluate the biliary tree and hepatic parenchymal findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in small-duct primary sclerosing cholangitis (SD-PSC).

Thirty-nine patients with biopsy-proven primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) without any bile duct abnormality on MRCP (n = 15) or ERCP (n = 24) at the time of diagnosis were identified. Follow-up MRCP was available in 36/39 patients (12/15 Baseline MRCP group and 24 Baseline ERCP group). Two radiologists in consensus assessed the MRI/MRCP findings. The baseline MRI/MRCP of 15 SD-PSC patients was compared with MRI/MRCP of 15 normal healthy potential liver donors (Control group). Comparisons were made between SD-PSC patients and the Control group, and between baseline and follow-up MRI/MRCP findings in the SD-PSC patients.

In the 15 Baseline MRCP SD-PSC subjects, the biliary tree was normal with a trend of larger bile ducts compared to the Control group. Periductal enhancement (arterial phase: 70%, 7/10; delayed phase: 90%, 9/10), heterogeneous parenchymal signal on T2-weighted (53%, 8/15) and post contrast-enhanced images (70%, 7/10), and enlarged periportal lymph nodes (73%, 11/15) were frequently present in patients with SD-PSC. Eight (33%) of 24 SD-PSC patients who had normal MRCP at baseline MRCP or initial follow-up MRCP after normal baseline ERCP showed large-duct PSC (LD-PSC) features on follow-up and the 10-year cumulative incidence for progression to LD-PSC rate was 8.5%.

SD-PSC patients have a normal biliary tree but frequently have peribiliary enhancement, abnormal parenchymal signal intensity, and periportal lymphadenopathy. One-third shows progression to LD-PSC on follow-up.