Cholangiography before biliary surgery: single-shot MR cholangiography versus intravenous cholangiography.
OBJECTIVE
To compare depiction of the biliary tract with magnetic resonance (MR) and intravenous cholangiography before biliary surgery.


METHODS
Intravenous cholangiograms and heavily T2-weighted single-shot MR images in 60 patients with biliary calculi were compared prospectively. Images obtained with each technique were independently assessed for depiction of anatomy and calculi.


RESULTS
The gallbladder was adequately visualized with intravenous cholangiography in 77% of patients and with MR cholangiography in 88%. Rates for visualization of the common bile duct were 97% and 100%, respectively; for the cystic duct, 27% and 75%; and intrahepatic ducts, 28% and 77%. With either technique, calculi in the gallbladder were correctly predicted as solitary or multiple in approximately 80% of patients. Five cases of common bile duct calculi were correctly predicted with this technique, two cases with cystic duct calculi were depicted with only MR cholangiography.


CONCLUSIONS
Single-shot MR cholangiography may replace intravenous cholangiography for visualization of the biliary tract. However, the delineation of tiny gallbladder calculi and shrunken gallbladders with thickened bile is limited.
Reuther
G
G
Imaging Clinic Döbling, Vienna, Austria.
Kiefer
B
B
Tuchmann
A
A
D001649:Bile Duct Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000473:pathology; D002758:Cholangiography / Q000379:methods*; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies