title: Efficacy of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in detecting common bile duct lithiasis: our experience.
abstract: It has been shown that magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) has a diagnostic accuracy comparable to that of ERCP. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of MRCP in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis, but with negative ultrasonography findings. Among 404 patients undergoing videolaparocholecystectomy for cholelithiasis, 48 with risk factors for coledocholithiasis were evaluated. All the patients with risk factors underwent preoperative hepatobiliary ultrasonography and MRCP. Patients were assigned to one of 2 main groups: A) patients with common bile duct stones at ultrasonography (15/48: 31%) and B) patients without evidence of common bile duct stones on ultrasonography (33/48: 69%), with B comprising two subgroups: B1) MRCP-positive for stones (7/33:21%) and B2) negative US and MRCP (26/33:79%). MRCP showed 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity. The high sensitivity of MRCP allows us to recommend a greater use of the procedure with avoidance of unnecessary ERCP, which should be reserved for therapeutic purposes only.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiological, Surgical and Emergency Sciences, V Unit of General Surgery and Advanced Surgical Procedures, Second University of Naples.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sperlongano
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pisaniello
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Del Viscovo
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Falco
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parmeggiani
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piatto
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Parmeggiani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D049448:Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance; D042883:Choledocholithiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography