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Accuracy of MRCP compared to ERCP in the diagnosis of bile duct disorders


D Hurter
C De Vries
P Potgieter
R Barry
F Botha
G Joubert

Abstract



Aim. To determine the accuracy of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) compared with the gold standard endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the diagnosis of bile duct disorders at Universitas Hospital, University of the
Free State (UFS), Bloemfontein. Patients and methods. Fifty-two patients with suspected pancreatobiliary pathology were included in this prospective observational study. MRCP
was performed in the 24-hour period prior to ERCP. Results. MRCP had sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 87%, 80%, 83.3% and 84.2% respectively for choledocholithiasis, which correlates well with results obtained in other
parts of the world. Conclusion. At UFS, MRCP has high diagnostic accuracy for bile duct
calculi. Owing to a small study population, results for other biliary pathology were inconclusive.

South African Journal of Radiology Vol. 12 (1) 2008: pp. 14-22

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eISSN: 2078-6778
print ISSN: 1027-202X