title: Single dose oral ranitidine improves MRCP image quality: a double-blind study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the possibility of whether a single 300 mg dose of ranitidine given orally 2-3h before magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) could reduce the signal from the stomach and duodenum, and thus increase the conspicuousness of the biliary tree.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five volunteers (22 female, 13 male), (age range 21-50) were underwent MRCP in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover trial on a Philips Intera 1.5 T machine using a phased array surface coil. Imaging was carried out in the coronal oblique plane. Six 40 mm sections were acquired at varying angles to delineate the biliary tree and pancreatic duct. The 70 examinations were blindly scored by three consultants experienced in cholangiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After ranitidine administration there was a significant decrease in signal from the stomach (mean=17.7, p=0.0005, CI 10, 25.3) and duodenum (mean=18.4, p=0.0005, 95%CI 9.6, 27.1) with a significant increase in conspicuousness of the distal common duct (mean=7.7, p=0.033, 95%CI 0.7, 14.7) and proximal common duct (mean=8.7, p=0.010 CI 2.2, 15.2). There were no adverse effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral ranitidine is a cheap and effective agent to decrease signal from the upper gastrointestinal tract and to improve visibility of the biliary tree.
authors.affiliation: South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust, Wythenshawe, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Bowes
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Melling
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: H-U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Laasch
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sukumar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D049448:Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance / Q000379:methods*; D003135:Common Bile Duct / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004386:Duodenum / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011899:Ranitidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013270:Stomach / Q000033:anatomy & histology
chemical_list: D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D010919:Placebos; D011899:Ranitidine