OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the spectrum of MR ima
ging features of primary sclerosing cholangitis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS. A retrospective review was performed of MR imaging f
indings including MR cholangiography and multiphasic contrast-enhanced dyna
mic sequences in 22 patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. MR imagin
g analysis included abnormalities of intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts, ab
normalities of liver parenchyma, changes in liver morphology, and lymphaden
opathy.
RESULTS. Abnormal findings of bile ducts were seen in all 22 patients; the
most common finding was intrahepatic bile duct dilatation (77%), followed b
y intrahepatic bile duct stenosis (64%), extrahepatic bile duct wall enhanc
ement (67%), extrahepatic bile duct wall thickening (50%), extrahepatic bil
e duct stenosis (50%), and intrahepatic bile duct beading (36%). Increased
enhancement of the liver parenchyma on dynamic arterial-phase images, predo
minantly in the peripheral areas of the liver, was identified in 56% of pat
ients. Other findings included periportal lymphadenopathy (77%), periportal
high signal intensity on T2-weighted images (68%), hypertrophy of the caud
ate lobe (68%), and abnormal hyperintensity of the liver parenchyma on T1-w
eighted images (23%).
CONCLUSION. On MR imaging, primary sclerosing cholangitis showed several ch
aracteristic features, including bile duct abnormalities and increased enha
ncement of the liver parenchyma. MR cholangiography and contrast-enhanced d
ynamic MR techniques are useful for revealing intra- and extrahepatic signs
of primary sclerosing cholangitis.