Background and aims: To evaluate the value of S-MRCP in patients in whom ERCP performed by experts in a tertiary center were unsuccessful.
Patients and methods: From January 2000 to June 2003, 22 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The indications for ERCP were obstructive jaundice (n = 9), abnormal liver enzymes (n = 8), suspected chronic pancreatitis (n = 2), recurrent pancreatitis (n = 2) or suspected pancreatic cancer (n = 1). The reasons for the ERCP failure were postsurgical anatomy (n = 7), duodenum stenosis (n = 3), duodenal diverticulum (n = 2), or technical failure (n = 10). MRCP images were evaluated before and 5 and 10 min after the i.v. administration of 0.5 IU/kg secretin.
Results: The MRCP images were diagnostic in all but 1 patient. Five patients gave normal MR fadings and required no further intervention. S-MRCP detected abnormalities (primary sclerosing cholangitis, chronic pancreatitis, cholangitis, cholecystolithiasis or common bile duct dilatation) in 10 patients, who were followed up clinically. Four patients subsequently underwent laparotomy (hepatico-jejunostomy owing to common bile duct stenosis caused by unresectable pancreatic cancer; hepaticotomy + Kehr drainage because of narrow biliary-enteric anastomosis; choledocho-jejunostomy, gastro-jejunostomy and Wirsungo-gastrostomy in consequence of chronic pancreatitis or choledocho-jejunostomy because of common bile duct stenosis caused by chronic pancreatitis). Three patients participated in therapeutic percutaneous transhepatic drainage; the indications were choledocholithiasis in one patient choledocho-jejunostomy anastomosis, narrow biliary-enteric anastomosis, or cholangiocarcinoma.
Conclusion: S-MRCP is the method of choice in cases where ERCP is not possible.