Role of Magnetic Resonance Cholangio-Pancreaticography in Differentiating between Benign and Malignant Causes of Biliary Obstruction

Abstract

The initial evaluation of obstructive jaundice involves distinguishing between intra and extra hepatic biliary obstruction. The goal of any radiologic procedure is to confirm the presence of biliary obstructive by detecting biliary dilatation, its exact location, extent and probable cause. A number of imaging modalities includes trans abdominal sonography (US), Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC), Magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatography (MRCP), and helical CT cholangiography (HCTC). MRCP has become widely used in the diagnosis, characterization and differentiation of different biliary and pancreatic duct diseases; it is an accurate, non-invasive, not requiring ionizing radiation or administration of contrast agents. MRCP will gradually replace direct cholangiography for diagnostic purposes and provide an efficient alteration when diagnostic ERCP or PTC is not successful or inadequate.