HASTE MR CHOLANGIOGRAPHY IN THE EVALUATION OF HILAR CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to determine the usefulness of MR cholangiography using the half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turbo spin-echo sequence in the examination of patients with hilar cho langiocarcinoma. CONCLUSION. Half-Fourier acquisition single-shot turb o spin-echo MR cholangiography is a useful, noninvasive adjunct to oth er imaging techniques, particularly MR imaging, in the evaluation of h ilar cholangiocarcinoma, MR cholangiography allows rapid visualization of the biliary tract without instrumentation and, therefore, without the risk of inducing sepsis in a patient with ductal obstruction. In t he six patients presented, MR cholangiography allowed for determinatio n of the proximal extent of disease and assessment of resectability an d delineated the duct both proximal and distal to the stricture and is olated ductal obstructions. MR cholangiography provides three-dimensio nal images of the biliary tract that facilitate planning of surgery, p alliative drainage, and radiation therapy.