Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, intraductal ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in bile duct strictures: a prospective comparison of imaging diagnostics with histopathological correlation.
OBJECTIVE
A variety of imaging techniques are available to diagnose bile duct strictures; the most effective imaging technique, however, has not been established yet. In the present study, we compared the impact of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS), and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) with regard to diagnosing bile duct strictures.


METHODS
We prospectively examined 33 patients with jaundice due to bile duct strictures by ERCP plus IDUS and MRCP. The objectives were to assess diagnostic quality of imaging, complete presentation of the bile duct, and differentiation of malignant from benign lesions. Surgical and histopathological correlations, which were used as the gold standard, were available in all cases since all included patients underwent laparotomy.


RESULTS
Diagnostic image quality for ERCP was 88% and 76% for MRCP (p > 0.05). Comparing ERCP and MRCP, complete presentation of the biliary tract was achieved in 94% and 82%, respectively (p > 0.05). ERCP and MRCP allowed correct differentiation of malignant from benign lesions in 76% and 58% (p= 0.057), respectively. By supplementing ERCP with IDUS, the accuracy of correct differentiation of malignant from benign lesions increased significantly to 88% (p= 0.0047).


CONCLUSIONS
Comparing ERCP with MRCP, we found adequate presentation of bile duct strictures in high imaging quality for both techniques. ERCP supplemented by IDUS gives more reliable and precise information about differentiation of malignant and benign lesions than MRCP alone without additional imaging sequences.
Department of Medicine B, Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, University of Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, D-48129 Muenster, Germany.
Dirk
D
Domagk
Johannes
J
Wessling
Peter
P
Reimer
Lars
L
Hertel
Christopher
C
Poremba
Norbert
N
Senninger
Achim
A
Heinecke
Wolfram
W
Domschke
Josef
J
Menzel
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000473:pathology*; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D001661:Biliary Tract Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002758:Cholangiography / Q000379:methods; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D019160:Endosonography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000473:pathology*; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity