PURPOSE: To compare
depiction of the biliary tract with magnetic resonance (MR) and intravenous
cholangiography before biliary surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intravenous
cholangiograms and heavily T2-weighted single-shot MR images in 60 patients
with biliary calculi were compared prospectively. Images obtained with
each technique were independently assessed for depiction of anatomy and
calculi. RESULTS: The gallbladder was adequately visualized with intravenous
cholangiography in 77% of patients and with MR cholangiography in 88%.
Rates for visualization of the common bile duct were 97% and 100%, respectively;
for the cystic duct, 27% and 75%; and intrahepatic ducts, 28% and 77%.
With either technique, calculi in the gallbladder were correctly predicted
as solitary or multiple in approximately 80% of patients. Five cases of
common bile duct calculi were correctly predicted with this technique,
two cases with cystic duct calculi were depicted with only MR cholangiography.
CONCLUSION: Single-shot MR cholangiography may replace intravenous cholangiography
for visualization of the biliary tract. However, the delineation of tiny
gallbladder calculi and shrunken gallbladders with thickened bile is limited.
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