Detection of biliary stenoses in patients after liver transplantation: Is there a different diagnostic accuracy of MRCP depending on the type of biliary anastomosis?

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Purpose Two different forms of biliary anastomosis can be created in patients undergoing liver transplantation: (a) bilio-digestive anastomoses or (b) choledocho-choledochostomy. Aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) for the depiction of biliary stenoses in liver transplant patients depending on the type of biliary anastomosis. Method and materials 24 liver transplant patients with clinical suspicion of biliary stenosis were studied (each 12 with bilio-digestive anastomosis/choledocho-choledochostomy). MRCP was performed on a 1.5T scanner (Magnetom Avanto, Siemens) including 2D single shot RARE, 2D T2w HASTE, TrueFISP and 3D high-resolution navigator corrected sequences. Presence of (a) anastomotic stenoses (AST) and (b) NAS (non-anastomotic strictures) were assessed. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were performed within 48 h after MRCP and served as the standard of reference. Results In patients with bilio-digestive anastomoses sensitivities of MRCP for the detection of AST and NAS amounted to 50% and 67%, respectively with specificity values of 83% and 50%. In patients with choledocho-chledochostomy sensitivities (AST: 100%, NAS: 100%) and specificities (AST: 100%, NAS: 88%) were significantly higher. Conclusion Biliary strictures after liver transplantation can be accurately detected by MRCP in patients after choledocho-chledochostomy. However, the diagnostic value of MRCP is lower if liver transplantation was performed in combination with a bilio-digestive anastomosis. This may be due to the less exact depiction of the anastomosis in the bowel wall. Thus, it is crucial to know the type of biliary anastomosis before choosing a diagnostic procedure.