Imaging findings of pancreaticobiliary duct diseases with single-shot MR cholangiopancreatography.

Abstract

R adiographic visualization of the biliary and pancreatic ducts requires application of a radi-opaque contrast agent and thus depends on unimpaired bile excretion or invasive procedures. MR imaging may provide sufficient intrinsic contrast for evaluation of biliary and pancreatic ducts I I 1. Pulse sequences based on turbo spin-echo pulse sequences are well suited for ductal display by enhancing T2-relaxation contrast of static fluids 121. Acquisition of three-dimensional volumes during quiet breathing or overlapping two-dimensional slices in breath-holds may serve as source data for a projective ductal display with images resembling those obtained from direct cholangiopancreatography 3-6]. However, ductal display may suffer from mis-registration artifacts. information loss by reconstruction algorithms. lengthy examination and calculation times. and degraded image quality in planes other than the plane of acquisition [3-61. These problems are overcome by ultralong echo trains in turbo spin-echo sequences that provide selective ductal visualization with complete background suppression in a single shot of a few seconds [7, 8]. The purpose of this essay is to illustrate findings of pancreaticobiliary ductal disease using single-shot MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) based on more than 200 correlated patient examinations. This essay also shows common artifacts seen on single-shot MRCP images and the limitations of this technique.