Characterization of Biliary Confluence Angle in Asian Population

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the morphological alterations in the biliary confluence angle of Asian population, describing the most frequent MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP ) findings, evaluating the confluence angle in the cases of dilated and normal ducts, and to correlate the angle with the patients age, gender, nationality, height , weight and body mass index (BMI). The study was done in Suleiman Fakeh Hospital in Jeddah KSA, in the period from March 2011 up to May 2012. The sample was drawn from patients in both gender referred to MRCP imaging with different indications and was classified into two groups, the first group was patients with normal biliary ducts, the second group was patients with dilated biliary ducts . All examinations were done using MRI 1.5 Tesla, Siemens Avanto 2010, single shot fast spin echo (SSFSE). Protocol using coronal oblique images was applied where the angle was measured. Results showed that the most common MRCP findings were: distended gall bladder, gall stone, cholecystitis, cholecystectomy, liver cirrhosis, hepatomegaly, hepatic lesion, pancreatitis ,and pancreatic lesion. MRCP can evaluate the biliray confluence angle in dilated and normal ducts. No significant relation was found between the biliary confluence angle and the selected variables in both normal and dilated ducts, but a significant relation was detected with the age in patients with normal biliary ducts. Dependency upon the biliary confluence angle is not benifectual for diagnosis or prediction of diseases. A new equation for predicting the biliary confluence angle with the known Asian ages was established.