Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in diagnosis of biliary disorders in children - Sharing our experience.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the role of Magnetic Resonance Cholangio-pancreatography in the diagnosis of biliary disorders in children.

METHODS

The retrospective study was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised data related to the period between August 2005 and December 2013. All children from age of 1 day to 17 years who had undergone Magnetic Rasonance Cholangio-pancreatography examination for suspected pancreaticobiliary disorders were included. Clinical presentation, Magnetic Rasonance Cholangio-pancreatography findings, operative findings and histopathological results were recorded. Sensitivity and specificity of Magnetic Rasonance Cholangio-pancreatography for different diseases was worked out.

RESULTS

Of the 50 patients in the study, 12(24%) showed findings of choledochal cyst. Of these patients, 11(91.6%) underwent surgery and operative findings were consistent with choledochal cyst. Only 1(8.3%) who was assessed as biliary atresia was found to have choledochal cyst on surgery Magnetic Resonance Cholangio-pancreatography was found to be 91% sensitive and 100% specific for diagnosis of choledochal cyst with diagnostic accuracy of 98%.

CONCLUSIONS

Magnetic Resonance Cholangio-pancreatography is a very accurate non-invasive investigation for the diagnosis of biliary disorders.