All issues > Volume 44(8); 2001

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 2001;44(8):899-907. Published online August 15, 2001.

The Usefulness of Magnetic Resonance Cholangiography in the Diagnosis of Biliary Atresia

Seok Joo SJ Han¹, Ki Sup KS Chung², Myung-Joon MJ Kim³, Airi AR Han², Eui Ho EH Hwang²

¹Division of Pediatric Surgery, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
³Department of Diagnostic Radiology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Seok Joo SJ Han ,Email: sjhan@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: To evaluate the usefulness of magnetic resonance cholangiography(MRC) for the diagnosis of biliary atresia in infantile cholestatic jaundice.
Methods
: Fifty consecutive infants with cholestatic jaundice underwent single-shot MRC for 3 years. The radiologic diagnosis of non-biliary atresia with MRC was based on visualization of the common bile duct and common hepatic duct. The diagnosis of biliary atresia was based on non-visualization of either the common bile duct or common hepatic duct. The final diagnosis of biliary atresia or non-biliary atresia was made with operations or clinical follow-up until jaundice resolved.
Results
: MRC could clearly visualized the gallbladder, cystic duct, common hepatic duct, common bile duct, both intrahepatic ducts and second order intrahepatic ducts in small neonates and infants. MRC had accuracy of 98%, sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 96% for diagnosis of biliary atresia as the cause of infantile cholestatic jaundice.
Conclusions
: MRC is a very reliable noninvasive imaging study for diagnosis of biliary atresia in infants with cholestatic jaundice.

Keywords :Biliary atresia, Infantile cholestatic jaundice, Magnetic resonance imaging, Cholangiography