title: [MRI of portal cavernoma with biliary involvement].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the value of MRI in the diagnosis of portal cavernoma with biliary obstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  and methods: six patients referred for clinical suspicion of biliary obstruction and portal cavernoma were explored with MRI. all patients were explored using a signa 1.5 t GE MR unit, with high gradient field strength and torso phased array coil. Biliary ducts were explored with ss-fse sequences of MR-cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), coronal and oblique coronal 20mm thick slices. Then, coronal T2w with shorter TE eff, MR-angiography and delayed T1w sequences were performed. CT scan and sonographic examinations of the liver were performed in all patients. Two patients were operated on and 2 underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three different types of biliary involvement were found: in 3 cases findings that mimic cholangiocarcinoma spreading along the common bile duct and in 3 other cases multiple smooth extrinsic impressions along the common bile duct; in one patient MRCP demonstrated an irregular narrowing of the common bile duct mimicking chronic cholangitis. In all cases, the bile duct varices appeared of low T2W signal; in three cases, fibrosis was identified on delayed sequences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRCP and MR-angiography can be proposed as a first imaging study in patients with portal cavernoma and cholestasis or bile duct dilatation.
authors.affiliation: Service de radiologie, Hôpital d'adultes, CHU nancy-brabois, rue du morvan, 54500 vandoeuvre.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Leclerc
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cannard
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Debelle
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Béot
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Régent
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000209:etiology; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein; D019043:Vascular Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*