Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the role of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)) in the diagnosis of biliary obstruction in correlation with operative, pathologic or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopanceatograpy (ERCP) results. Methods: Fifty patients with obstructive jaundice were included in this study, 18 males and 32 females ranging in age from 10 years to 84 years, with the mean age is 47 years. They all had initial abdominal US followed by MRCP. Results: The whole sensitivity of MRCP in the diagnosis of choledocolithisis =86.6%, for strictures = 80% and its sensitivity for malignancy = 80%. MRCP showed 100% sensitivity in the diagnosis of inflammatory conditions of the biliary system. Conclusions: MRCP has a great role in diagnosing causes of obstructive jaundice and defining the level of obstruction. The commonest cause of biliary obstruction – even in post cholecystectomy patients- was stones of the bile ducts which could be easily diagnosed by MRCP with high sensitivity. Accurate assessment of biliary anomalies provides a road-map for interventional procedures to avoid duct injury