Revista de Hígado: enfermedades y trasplantes

Diagnostic Imaging of Patients with Pancreato-Biliary Diseases: Comparison between Ultrasound, Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance

Simone Maurea, Antonio Corvino, Pier Paolo Mainenti,Carmine Mollica, Massimo Imbriaco, Luigi Camera, Marcello Mancini, Fabio Corvino and Marco Salvatore

Diagnostic Imaging of Patients with Pancreato-Biliary Diseases: Comparison between Ultrasound, Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance

The aim of this study was to directly compare the results of MR cholangio-pancreatography (MRCP) with those of ultrasound (US) and multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) in patients with pancreatico-biliary diseases. A total of 110 patients (62 M, 48 F), ranging in age from 22 to 89 years, was studied before surgery (n=99) or after cholecystectomy (n=11) for lithiasis. MRCP was performed in all patients while US was acquired in 55 patients and MSCT was performed in 76 patients. Histology (n=34), biopsy (n=38), endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) (n=28) and/or clinical-imaging follow-up (n=10) data were considered as standard of reference. Patient population was divided in three groups; Group 1 (n=55) consisted of a comparison between MRCP and US in biliary tract diseases; Group 2 (n=37) consisted of a comparison between MRCP and MSCT in biliary tract diseases; Group 3 (n=40) consisted of a comparison between MRCP and MSCT in pancreatic masses. A regional imaging qualitative evaluation of biliary and pancreatic duct system (gallbladder and cystic duct, intra- and extra-hepatic ducts, main pancreatic duct) was performed.