MAGNETIC-RESONANCE CHOLANGIOPANCREATOGRAPHY OF THE BILIARY DUCTS - TECHNIQUES, CLINICAL-APPLICATIONS, AND LIMITATIONS

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is a noninvasive me thod capable of generating images of the biliary tree that resemble th ose provided by direct invasive cholangiographic techniques. MRCP is b ased on the ability of heavily T2-weighted sequences to obtain images in which static fluid in the bile ducts appears bright against a dark background. MRCP allows display of both cross-sectional and projection al information without the need for contrast media injection. Because the projectional images resemble those of direct cholangiography, they are readily accepted by gastroenterologists and surgeons. Although th e exact role of MRCP for the evaluation of the biliary system has not been fully defined, continued advances in both technique and experienc e have begun to clarify the potential uses of MRCP in the workup of bi liary diseases. This review will discuss these developing clinical rol es and their implications for patient management as well as the imagin g principles, techniques, limitations, and artifacts of MRCP.