Advances in Biliary Imaging: CT and MR Cholangiography

Introduction

Imaging of the biliary system has become much more advanced over the last couple of years due to technical progress regarding image acquisition and further development of postprocessing techniques. Magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreaticography (MRCP) has advanced into an established technique for evaluation of the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts. Over the last couple of years it has evolved into a reliable noninvasive diagnostic alternative to a diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP).

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to review different imaging techniques for assessment of the hepatobiliary system with a focus on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT), to describe imaging acquisition and postprocessing techniques, and to illustrate some clinical indications. MRI as well as CT allow a comprehensive and noninvasive evaluation of the liver parenchyma, periductal tissue, and bile ducts. More recently developed hepatocyte-specific contrast agents are still in the process of evaluation for contrast-enhanced MR cholangiography. Future applications may include the grading of liver function and the diagnosis of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.

Keywords

MRC, MRCP, CT-cholangiography, bile duct, DHC