Pseudo-obstruction of the extrahepatic bile duct due to artifact from arterial pulsatile compression: A diagnostic pitfall of MR cholangiopancreatography
Y. Watanabe et al., Pseudo-obstruction of the extrahepatic bile duct due to artifact from arterial pulsatile compression: A diagnostic pitfall of MR cholangiopancreatography, RADIOLOGY, 214(3), 2000, pp. 856-860
Citations number
20
Categorie Soggetti
Radiology ,Nuclear Medicine & Imaging","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
PURPOSE: To evaluate the frequency of artifact from arterial pulsatile comp
ression as the cause of pseudo-obstruction of the extrahepatic bile duct at
magnetic resonance (MR) cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and specify the ca
usative vessels.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 234 patients (102 men, 132 women; age range, 25-8
0 years), MRCP images obtained by using a single-shot turbo spin-echo seque
nce were reviewed to assess pseudo-obstruction of the extrahepatic bile duc
t caused by vascular compression. Dual-phase spiral computed tomography, co
ntrast material-enhanced three-dimensional MR angiography, and/or digital s
ubtraction angiography also were performed to determine the vessel that cau
sed the pseudo-obstruction.
RESULTS: Thirty-six pseudo-obstructions due to vascular compression were fo
und in 33 (14%) patients. The common hepatic duct (27 [75%] sites) was the
most common pseudo-obstruction site, followed by the left hepatic duct (fou
r [11%] sites), proximal common bile duct (three [8%] sites), and right hep
atic duct (two [6%] sites). The causative vessels were identified as the ri
ght hepatic artery at 24 (67%) sites; gastroduodenal artery, two (6%) sites
; cystic artery, two (6%) sites; proper hepatic artery, one (3%) site; and
an unspecified branch of the common hepatic artery, seven (19%) sites.
CONCLUSION: At MRCP, pseudo-obstruction of the extrahepatic bile duct can b
e caused by pulsatile vascular compression of the hepatic and gastroduodena
l arteries, and it should not be misdiagnosed as a bile duct tumor or bilia
ry stone.