[MR cholangiopancreatography in choledochal cysts].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the value of MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in the diagnosis and preoperative evaluation of choledochal cysts.


METHODS
Five patients (aged between 6 days and 28 years) were investigated by MRCP, referred for ultrasonographic detection of a bile duct dilatation or a cystic structure, of antenatal diagnosis (1 case), for jaundice or abdominal pain (3 cases) or in late follow-up of a choledochal cyst surgery. Two endoscopic-ultrasonographic studies were performed. The five patients underwent surgery without preoperative biliary cholangiography. MRCP was performed using a HASTE sequence in frontal, oblique, axial planes (1,5 Tesla MR unit).


RESULTS
MRCP allowed to confirm choledochal cyst, helps to specify the anatomical type (2 type I, 3 type II), detects choledocholithiasis (3 cases). Anatomic correlation was perfect. MRCP allowed to exclude gastrointestinal duplication. Anomalous junction of the pancreaticobiliary duct was found in one case.


CONCLUSIONS
MRCP diagnoses choledochal cysts, specifies type, helps surgery and can avoid endoscopic retrograde cholangiography or endoscopic sonographic examinations especially for children. It may find an anomalous junction of the pancreaticobiliary duct.
Frampas
E
E
Service de Radiologie et Imagerie Médicale, CHU de Nantes, Hôtel Dieu et HME, BP 1005, 44035 Nantes Cedex 01.
Moussaly
F
F
Léauté
F
F
Heloury
Y
Y
Le Neel
J C
JC
Dupas
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002758:Cholangiography / Q000379:methods*; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D015529:Choledochal Cyst / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D042882:Gallstones / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014463:Ultrasonography