title: Diagnostic role of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in evaluation of obstructive biliopathies and correlating it with final diagnosis and clinical profile of patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the utility of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) as a noninvasive diagnostic tool in patients with obstructive biliopathies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was conducted on 54 patients with clinically suspected biliary obstruction. MRCP in these patients was compared and correlated with final diagnosis and their clinical profile.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sample profile was described in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and diagnostic accuracy. Pearson's Chi-square statistics was used to assess the strength of association between diagnostic accuracy of MRCP and final diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the 54 patients, 50 had biliary obstruction. The cause of biliary obstruction was finally identified on the basis of direct cholangiography/surgery/histopathology. In 52 of the 54 patients, MRCP agreed with final diagnosis in identifying the level of block. MRCP agreed with final diagnosis in identifying the cause of obstruction in 48 of the 54 patients (89%). Sensitivity of MRCP in identifying the level of obstruction in comparison with final diagnosis was 100%, while diagnostic accuracy of MRCP in identifying the level of obstruction in comparison with final diagnosis was 96.29%. The correlation between MRCP and final diagnosis in diagnosing cause of obstruction was 0.95 (Pearson's correlation coefficient, P = 0.017).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRCP is a safe ionizing radiation and iodinated contrast free modality which has the ability to display the biliary tree by combining the advantages of projectional and cross-sectional imaging.
authors: Department of Radio Diagnosis, Era's Lucknow Medical College, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors: Umesh Chandra
authors: UC
authors: Parashari
authors: Department of Radio Diagnosis, Era's Lucknow Medical College, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors: Sachin
authors: S
authors: Khanduri
authors: Department of Radio Diagnosis, Era's Lucknow Medical College, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors: Samarjit
authors: S
authors: Bhadury
authors: Department of Radio Diagnosis, Sardar Patel Institute of Medical and Dental Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors: Deepika
authors: D
authors: Upadhyay
authors: Department of Radio Diagnosis, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors: Kaushal
authors: K
authors: Kishore
keywords: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography; benign stricture; choledocholithiasis; malignant stricture; obstructive biliopathy