title: Exploring the length of the common channel of pancreaticobiliary maljunction on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the revised diagnostic criteria for pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM), PBM can be diagnosed from a long common channel by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). However, it is necessary to differentiate from high confluence of pancreaticobiliary ducts (HCPBD) with a relatively long common channel (≥6 mm) and effect of the sphincter in the pancreaticobiliary junction. This multicenter study aimed to explore definite value of the length of an abnormally long common channel, which enables to distinguish PBM from HCPBD on MRCP.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 184 PBM patients and 22 HCPBD patients who were diagnosed by direct cholangiography and underwent MRCP, the length of the common channel was measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The length of the common channel was 16.2 ± 6.9 mm on direct cholangiography and 13.9 ± 6.2 mm on MRCP in PBM patients, and 7.7 ± 1.5 mm and 6.6 ± 1.4 mm in HCPBD patients. The optimal cut off value of the length of the common channel to distinguish PBM from HCPBD was identified to be 9 mm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pancreaticobiliary maljunction can be diagnosed from an abnormally long common channel on MRCP, but in cases of the common channel ≤9 mm on MRCP, direct cholangiography is needed to confirm PBM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumihide
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Itokawa
authors.forename: Terumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamisawa
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Itoi
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.forename: Hisami
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Tsugumichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koshinaga
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tamoto
authors.forename: Takuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.forename: Yasutoshi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maguchi
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Urushihara
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horaguchi
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morotomi
authors.forename: Masahito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hanada
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Astushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Taketo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Yuuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Horiguchi
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Igarashi
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inui
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000473:pathology*; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D049448:Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Common channel; Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography; Pancreaticobiliary maljunction