title: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography evaluation of intrahepatic bile duct variations with updated classification.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preoperative detection of intrahepatic bile duct (IHBD) variations is essential to reduce surgical morbidity and mortality rates. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is a noninvasive and reliable method for demonstrating the normal IHBD anatomy and its variations. This retrospective study aimed to identify and classify novel variations, except those already reported in the literature, using MRCP.
  
  
  METHODS
  MRCP examinations, which were conducted in two different centers in the last five years, were retrospectively evaluated. IHBD variations were recorded with respect to the Yoshida classification. In addition, newly detected variations that were not included in this classification were identified and classified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MRCP examinations of 2624 patients were screened, and 2143 were determined to be eligible for evaluation. Of 2143 patients, 987 were males (average age, 54±18 years) and 1156 were females (mean age, 57±17 years). In this study, 10 novel variations that were not included in the Yoshida classification were identified in 14 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRCP is an effective, reliable, and noninvasive imaging method for evaluating the IHBD anatomy and its variations. Novel variations described in this study may help to better understand the biliary anatomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Selçuk University School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey. naymanalaaddin@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Alaaddin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nayman
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Özbek
authors.forename: Seyit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Erol
authors.forename: Hayrettin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karakuş
authors.forename: Hasan Emin
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Kaya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D049448:Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies