Magnetic resonance cholangiography for the diagnosis of biliary atresia.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) for the diagnosis of biliary atresia in infantile cholestatic jaundice.


METHODS
Forty-seven consecutive infants with cholestatic jaundice underwent single-shot MRC. The diagnosis of biliary atresia was made by MRC based on the nonvisualization of extrahepatic bile ducts and excluded on the basis of the complete visualization of extrahepatic bile ducts. The final diagnosis of biliary atresia (BA group, n = 23) or nonbiliary atresia (NBA group, n = 24) was established by operation or clinical follow-up until the jaundice resolved.


RESULTS
The extrahepatic bile ducts including the gallbladder, the cystic duct, the common bile duct, and the common hepatic duct were visualized in 23 of the 24 infants of the NBA group. The extrahepatic bile ducts, except the gallbladder, were not depicted in any infant of the BA group. MRC had an accuracy of 98%, sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 96%, for diagnosis of biliary atresia as the cause of infantile cholestatic jaundice.


CONCLUSIONS
MRC is a very reliable noninvasive imaging modality for the diagnosis of biliary atresia. In infants with cholestatic jaundice and considered for exploratory laparotomy, MRC is recommended to avoid unnecessary surgery.
Han
Seok Joo
SJ
Departments of Pediatric Surgery, Diagnostic Radiology, and Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Myung-Joon
MJ
Han
Airi
A
Chung
Ki Sup
KS
Yoon
Choon Sik
CS
Kim
Dojoong
D
Hwang
Eui Ho
EH
D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000473:pathology*; D017734:Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic / Q000473:pathology; D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity