Role of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in diagnosing pancreatobiliary pathologies: a prospective study

Abstract

Background: Non-invasive techniques such as ultrasound and CT scan (abdomen and pelvis) are widely used in investigations of pancreaticobiliary disease, though easily available and cheap, have limitations in term of sensitivity. Invasive procedures like ERCP, though considered gold standard for diagnosis of pancreaticobiliary disease, requires highly skilled team of supporting doctors. MR Cholangio Pancreatography (MRCP) is evolving as an effective non-invasive imaging technique for examining patients with pancreatic or biliary diseases. The purpose is to illustrate the findings of MRCP in various abnormalities affecting the pancreaticobiliary diseases. Objective was to study the role of MRCP as non-invasive imaging modality for diagnosis of pancreatobiliary diseases, in diagnosing lower biliary tract pathologies, pancreatic duct pathologies, determining treatment modality in pancreatobiliary diseases, surgical or endoscopicMethods: This is a prospective study conducted in Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College and Hospital, Pimpri, Pune for a period of two years from July 2015 to September 2017. 60 patients were enrolled in the study, their MRCP was performed following ultrasonography.Results: The MRCP diagnosed the following pathologies- cholelithiasis, choledocholithiasis, CBD stricture, chronic pancreatitis, choledochal cyst, cholangiocarcinoma, pseudocyst of pancreas, sclerosing cholangitis and GB perforation. Out of 60, 32 underwent surgical procedure and 20 underwent endoscopic procedure and 8 were treated medically.Conclusions: MRCP is very accurate in diagnosing CBD and pancreatic duct pathologies. Its helps in deciding the treatment modality for the same. It decides whether the patient requires ERCP and thus cuts down the rate of ‘negative’ ERCP.