Abstract
The authors demonstrate, in a group of 338 patients, their experience in the application of MR imaging and MR cholangio-pancreatography (MRCP) for the examination of biliary pathways, pancreas and its duct. The examination was done on the MR device of 1.5 Tesla magnetic field power.
A standard imaging protocol consisting of the classical T2 weighted sequence with suppressing the signal of fat in transversal plane was selected, 2D MRCP sequence in the coronary plane and 3D MRCP sequence in the coronary and transversal plane. The resulting MRCP images were evaluated from the sub-layers obtained, MIP (minimal intensity projection) reconstructions were made subsequently.
Among indications suitable for MRCP the authors consider the clinical and laboratory suspected symptoms of cholelithiasis, unspecified stenosis or dilatation of biliary pathways, biliary complaints after biliary-digestive anastomoses, inborn anomalies of biliary duct, suspected pathological processes of intrahepatic biliary ducts, inflammatory and tumorous diseases of pancreas as well as suspected pancreas divisum. The authors proved a good information value and universal use of the selected imaging process and recommend, therefore, inclusion of MRCP into the examination algorithm in adult patients and children with diseases of biliary pathways and pancreas.