Magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) can be performed with data fr
om a routine imaging protocol, without the need for additional pulse s
equences or special equipment. We studied three patients with obstruct
ive jaundice who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liv
er. T2-weighted fat suppressed fast spin-echo sequences were processed
with a maximum intensity projection algorithm to create three-dimensi
onal images of the dilated portions of the biliary tree. Results were
correlated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and com
puted tomography. These images compare favorably with those acquired o
n scanners in which special breath-holding gradient echo protocols are
used.