INITIAL EXPERIENCE WITH NON-BREATH-HOLD MAGNETIC-RESONANCE CHOLANGIOPANCREATOGRAPHY - A NEW NONINVASIVE TECHNIQUE FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF CHOLEDOCHAL CYST IN CHILDREN

Background/Purpose: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is an emerging tool for the noninvasive evaluation of the pancreatico biliary tree. Methods: Non-breath-hold MRCP was used in three children to evaluate choledochal cyst; a first for this new modality of diagno stic imaging. In all cases, the intrahepatic and extra hepatic bile du cts, and the pancreatic duct were clearly visualized. Results: Two cas es were found to have a fusiform choledochal cyst, and non-breath-hold MRCP demonstrated pancreaticobiliary malunion and a long common chann el, In the remaining case, the size and location of the huge cyst prev ented visualization of any pancreaticobiliary malunion, Endoscopic ret rograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in this patient failed to prov ide any additional information, All patients underwent cyst excision w ith hepaticoenterostomy, and made an uneventful recovery. Conclusions: Our initial experience suggests that non-breath-hold MRCP is a reliab le method for the diagnosis of choledochal cyst in children and could replace ERCP. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.