Home About us Editorial board Search Ahead of print Current issue Archives Submit article Instructions Subscribe Contacts Login 


 
 Table of Contents  
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2017  |  Volume : 30  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 110-115

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in malignant obstructive jaundice


1 Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt
2 Department of Radiology, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt

Date of Submission24-Oct-2016
Date of Acceptance02-Dec-2016
Date of Web Publication25-Jul-2017

Correspondence Address:
Mahmoud A Abdel Hady
Department of Radiology, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, 5 Mohamed Saber El Feky Street, El Bagour, Menoufia Governorate, 32821,
Egypt
Login to access the Email id

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/1110-2098.211517

Rights and Permissions
  Abstract 


Objective
Theaim of this study was to assess the role of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in the diagnosis of malignant biliary obstruction.
Background
MRCP is an established technique for the evaluation of intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts in patients with known or suspected hepatobiliary disease. It is considered a reliable, noninvasive alternative to diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.
Patients and methods
This study was conducted on 43 patients (28 male and 15 female) with malignant obstructive jaundice. Their ages ranged between 30 and 85 years with a mean age of 56.86 years. MRCP protocols applied for imaging of the hepatobiliary system were as follows: T2-weighted fast spin echo sequence on the axial and coronal planes; three-dimensional, fat suppressed, heavily T2-weighted fast spin echo sequence with multislab acquisition mode; two-dimensional thick single slab projectional images; and three-dimensional reconstruction algorithms.
Results
Among the patients, jaundice and biliary colic were the most common clinical complaints. MRCP detected different pathologic entities, including cholangiocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma, distal common bile duct stricture, periampullary carcinoma, gallbladder carcinoma, lymphoma, metastasis, and suprarenal carcinoma. The MRCP diagnosis was compared with the final diagnosis reached using histopathologic data, tumor marker, and follow-up imaging.
Conclusion
MRCP provides a safe, noninvasive, accurate diagnostic tool in the detection of the cause, level of biliary obstruction, and lymph node spread.

Keywords: cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic ultrasonography, malignant obstructive jaundice, magnetic resonance


How to cite this article:
Ali ZA, Zytoon AA, Abdel Hady MA. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in malignant obstructive jaundice. Menoufia Med J 2017;30:110-5

How to cite this URL:
Ali ZA, Zytoon AA, Abdel Hady MA. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in malignant obstructive jaundice. Menoufia Med J [serial online] 2017 [cited 2024 Mar 29];30:110-5. Available from: http://www.mmj.eg.net/text.asp?2017/30/1/110/211517




  Introduction Top


Jaundice refers to the yellowish coloration of the skin and sclera caused by the accumulation of bilirubin in the skin and mucous membranes [1].

Malignant obstructive jaundice is a common disease observed in clinical practice and is caused by tumors arising from the pancreas, biliary tree, and secondary metastases in the liver or in porta hepatis lymph nodes (LNs) [2].

Over the past decades, major advancements in the diagnosis of malignant obstructive jaundice have been made. The site of obstruction in biliary tree can be identified accurately using noninvasive methods such as ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC), and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) [3].

Accurate methods for detecting biliary diseases are important to both surgeons and endoscopists. At present, endoscopic ultrasonography and CT, although noninvasive diagnostic tools, are not always sufficiently sensitive [4].

ERCP still is the gold standard for exploration of the biliopancreatic region. Nevertheless, ERCP is associated with significant complication rates. Therefore, there is a clear need for a less invasive, safe, and highly sensitive diagnostic procedure for patients with suspected bile duct or pancreatic duct diseases [5].

The development of fast imaging sequences and the improvements in the quality of abdominal images have generated a new interest in magnetic resonance evaluation of biliopancreatic diseases [6].

Using heavily T2-weighted sequences, the signal of static or slow-moving fluid-filled structures such as the bile and pancreatic ducts is greatly increased, resulting in increased duct-to-background contrast. Hence, signals from the fluid from the biliary system and pancreatic duct are hyperintense, whereas signals from the background tissue are hypointense, enabling excellent depiction of the biliary and pancreatic system [7].

The purpose of our study was to assess the role of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in malignant obstructive jaundice.


  Patients and Methods Top


Patient population

This study was performed between October 2014 and March 2016. Approval of the Ethical Committee, Menoufia University, was obtained. This study is a retrospective one and all patients' data are anonymous. It included 43 patients, 28 male and 15 female, whose ages ranged between 30 and 85 years (mean age: 56.86 years).

They were referred to the MRI Unit, Radiology Department, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, for MRCP examination of the biliary tract. The patients presented with one or more of the following signs and symptoms: jaundice, biliary colic with or without fever, and loss of weight.

MRCP, complementary US, and triphasic CT were performed for all cases. PTC was performed for five cases. Biopsy was performed for 25 cases. Laboratory investigations included the evaluation of total and direct bilirubin, serum liver enzymes, and tumor markers for all cases.

The final diagnosis was reached using histopathologic data, tumor marker, and follow-up imaging.

Imaging

Patient preparation

Patients were instructed to fast for at least 6 h before MRCP examination to promote gallbladder (GB) filling, gastric emptying, and reduce unwanted fluid signals from the intestine.

Full history and consent were taken from the patients and they were asked about a history of cardiac pacemakers, ferromagnetic aneurysmal clips, metallic objects in the orbit, and any ferromagnetic materials in a critical location that degrade the image and are potentially hazardous to the patients.

No premedications or contrast medium were administrated. Only sedatives (midazolam at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg/dose) were required for two adult patients with claustrophobia.

Technique of examination

The MRI machine used was a 1.5-T MRI Scanner (GE Healthcare, USA). A circular surface (synergy body) coil was used.

MRCP examination was performed using breath-hold 2D single-slice fast spin echo and nonbreath-hold multislice acquisition followed by 3D maximum intensity projection (MIP) reconstruction with complementary axial or coronal T2-weighted MRIs.

2D MRCP using single-slice acquisition was performed using the following parameters:

Parameters used for two-dimensional single acquisition magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography

Patient position: spine; orientation: coronal; slice number: 1; slice thickness: 60–80 mm; TR: 8000 ms; TE: 900 ms; scan time: 6–8 s; matrix size: 256 × 256; and NEX: 1.

The angle of the coronal image could be changed several times to obtain satisfactory results.

Parameters used for three-dimensional multislice acquisition magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography

Patient position: spine; orientation: coronal; slice number: 20; slice thickness: 0.8 mm; TR: 18 000 ms; TE: 650 ms; scan time: 316 s; matrix size: 256 × 256; and NEX: 2.

MRCP multislice technique was followed by MIP reconstruction to obtain 3D MRCP images with variable rotation angle.

Parameters used for axial T2-weighted magnetic resonance images of the upper abdomen

Patient position: spine; orientation: transverse; slice number: 25; slice thickness: 7–10 mm; TR: 3000 ms; TE: 100–150 ms; scan time: 1.5–4 s; matrix size: 256 × 256; and NEX: 2.

Axial T2-weighted MRIs of the upper abdomen were obtained first before MRCP as they served as a guide to determine the correct obliquity of the coronal oblique sections of MRCP images. The angle of MRCP examination was chosen from the section at which the biliary lesion appeared.

Parameters used for complementary coronal (or axial) T2-weighted magnetic resonance images

Patient position: spine; orientation: coronal (transverse); slice number: 25; slice thickness: 5–10 mm; TR: 3.5–3.9 ms; TE: 1.7–1.9 ms; scan time: 30 s; matrix size: 256 × 256; and NEX: 6.

Image analysis

Image analysis was performed on Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine data and hard copies were obtained by three experienced abdominal radiologists. All MRCP images were reviewed by two consultants with more than 20 years' experience in radiodiagnosis procedures and a specialist with more than 10 years' experience in radiodiagnosis procedures. Conventional MRI and MRCP images were reviewed and analyzed at different imaging sequences, including the coronal single-shot thick slab MRCP and the reformatted MIP images of the multisection thin-slice MRCP.

The images were reviewed at work stations, each sequence alone followed by combined evaluation. Blind review was performed first, and then the provisional MRCP diagnosis was compared with the final diagnosis (the gold standard of diagnosis) based on patient's management either by means of further investigations, pathologic correlation, or using ERCP data.

Assessment comprised analysis of MRCP as regards possible cause of biliary obstruction, level of obstruction, and LN spread.

Statistical analysis

The results were collected, tabulated, and statistically analyzed with an IBM compatible personal computer with SPSS statistical package version 20 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA). Descriptive statistics were used – for example, number and percent for qualitative data, and mean and SD for quantitative data (for age only).


  Results Top


The present study included 43 patients, 28 male and 15 female, whose ages ranged between 30 and 85 years (mean age: 56.86 years). The most affected age group was between 50 and 59 years. The least affected age group was between 80 and 89 years.

Analysis of the data obtained by means of clinical examination revealed a wide range of clinical signs and symptoms occurring separately or in conjunction. Jaundice was the most common presenting complaint (65.1%).

The MRCP findings in the biliary tree of the 43 patients showed findings of different pathologic entities. Cholangiocarcinoma constituted the largest number of patients, 22 out of 43 (51.2%) cases. GB carcinoma, lymphoma, metastasis, and suprarenal carcinomas constituted the least number of patients (2.32% for each) [Figure 1].
Figure 1: Possible cause of biliary obstruction detected using magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography among studied cases. GB, gallbladder; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma.

Click here to view


Final diagnosis was reached by correlating with histopathological data, tumor markers, and follow-up imaging. There was perfect symmetry between MRCP results for the diagnosis of malignant biliary obstruction in relation with the results of various confirmatory modalities in the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma, cancer of the pancreas, distal stricture, periampullary carcinoma, lymphoma, suprarenal neoplasm, and GB carcinoma. However, in case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), there was 75% symmetry and 25% was misdiagnosed as cholangiocarcinoma [Table 1].
Table 1 Correlation between magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography results and confirmatory test results

Click here to view


Cholangiocarcinoma was the most common cause of malignant biliary obstruction (53.48%).

Cholangiocarcinomas were classified anatomically and morphologically. The most common anatomic type was the intrahepatic type, whereas morphologically the mass-forming type [Figure 2] was more frequent compared with the periductal infiltrating type [Figure 3].
Figure 2: A 66-year-old male patient presented with progressive jaundice and abdominal pain. (a) Axial T2-weighted image; (b) coronal T2-weighted image; (c) 3D magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography with maximum intensity projection: large central lobulated hepatic mass with high T2 and low T1 signal [(b) and (c), red arrows) compressing both the right and left hepatic ducts with moderate dilated bilobar radicles [(a) and (b), yellow arrows]. Diagnosis: cholangiocarcinoma.

Click here to view
Figure 3: Classification of cholangiocarcinoma.

Click here to view



  Discussion Top


The study group consisted of 43 patients (28 male and 15 female). Their ages ranged between 30 and 85 years, with a mean age of 56.86 years.

Biochemical criteria of the patients with malignant obstructive jaundice reveal elevation of both total and direct bilirubin in 95.34% and elevated alanine transaminase in 46.5%, elevated aspartate transaminase in 39.53%, elevated alkaline phosphatase in 60.4%, and elevated γ-glutamyl transferase in 39.5%. Madhok and Rastogi [7] revealed that serum bilirubin level and alkaline phosphatase were elevated in all patients with malignant obstructive jaundice. Elevated tumor marker was noted in malignant biliary obstruction. In our study, elevated α-fetoprotein was noted in case of HCC patients (6.79%).

Elevated CA 19-9 was observed in case of cholangiocarcinoma (32.55% from all patients and 63.63% of cholangiocarcinoma patients). Okuda et al. [8] noticed that α-fetoprotein-positive patients presented HCC features, which were very different from those of classical intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IH–CCA) whose patients were seropositive to CA 19-9.

In our study, MRCP was accurate in depicting the level of obstruction in all 43 cases. Accurate detection of the level of obstruction in all cases of periampullary carcinoma (100% sensitivity and accuracy) was observed; this is nearly similar to that reported in the study by Singh et al. [9], who reported 100% sensitive, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy in detecting periampullary carcinoma [Figure 4].
Figure 4: A 44-year-old female patient presented with gradual progressive jaundice. (a) 3D magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography with maximum intensity projection; (b) coronal T2-weighted image; (c) 2D magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography: mild dilated bilobar radicles [(b), yellow arrow] with dilated common bile duct [(a) and (c), yellow arrow] with distal short and irregular stricture at distal common bile duct (red arrows). Final diagnosis: malignant distal common bile duct stricture

Click here to view


In our study the incidence of extrahepatic biliary obstruction was the more common type of biliary obstruction. This was closely related to the study by Zhong et al. [10], which had shown the same results.

In our study, the incidence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (77.27%) was more common compared with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, whereas Hennedige et al. [11] stated that extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (90%) is more common compared with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (10%).

The study by Meong et al. [12] showed that the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MRCP can be increased by 17–20% when T1-weighted and T2-weighted image are combined with MRCP images for the differentiation of benign from malignant causes of biliary dilatation [Figure 5]. In our study, conventional MRIs played an important role, helping in the diagnosis of malignant biliary obstruction in detecting the site of malignant biliary lesion with its intrahepatic or extrahepatic biliary ductal extension and the presence of associated metastasis, lymphadenopathy, organomegally, fluid collections, and its location.
Figure 5: A 62-year-old female patient presented with abdominal pain and progressive jaundice. (a) Axial T2-weighted image; (b) coronal T2-weighted image; (c and d) 3D magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography with maximum intensity projection: soft tissue mass is seen occupying the gallbladder fossa measuring about 76 cm [(a) and (b), red arrows]. The mass infiltrate surrounding liver parenchyma and cystic duct, common hepatic duct, and proximal common bile duct with consequent moderate intrahepatic bile ducts [(c) and (d), red arrow]. Diagnosis: right suprarenal carcinoma.

Click here to view


Different intensities were detected at T2-weighted image. Hyperintensity was the most common among all lesions (51.16%). HCC and cholangiocarcinoma are predominantly hyperintense. Vanderveen and Hussain [13] stated that cholangiocarcinoma appear hypointense on T1-weighted and hyperintense on T2-weighted imaging relative to liver parenchyma.

Regional LNs should be assessed in a case of malignant biliary obstruction [Figure 6]. Regional LN was affected in 37.20% of cases. LN was affected in 40.9% in case of cholangiocarcinoma, which was nearly similar to a study by Madhok and Rastogi [7] in which four of eight (50%) cases revealed regional LN affection.
Figure 6: Axial T2-weighted images: segment IV hepatic mass with high-signal at T2 [(a), red arrow] compressing the left duct with moderate left lobe biliary radicles. Enlarged porta hepatis lymph node with high-signal at T2 metastatic [(b), red arrow].

Click here to view


Finally, from this study we found that MRCP has several merits as a developing technique in the evaluation of patients with malignant biliary obstruction as follows: MRCP is a complete noninvasive technique that provides projectional images similar to that of ERCP without the administration of contrast agents and the use of radiation and medications, and is less operator dependent. Moreover, no complications were encountered in adequately screened patients. MRCP provides global presentation of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system, both proximal and distal to the site of the biliary obstruction. MRCP can depict the nature of the obstructing lesion at the site of the obstruction. MRCP can be used in the cases of technical limitations of ERCP and as a part of complete MR examination and extends the diagnostic information from the biliopancreatic tract morphology to the surrounding structures.

Despite the several advantages of MRCP, there are also some limitations encountered in our study: its relatively high cost at present, which is a major problem as most of the patients are of poor socioeconomic status; the fact that the procedure can cause claustrophobia; its inability to offer therapeutic intervention as compared with ERCP and to a lesser extent compared with PTC; the obtained image quality can be degraded by many factors, including marked obesity, massive ascites, inability to maintain breath holding during the breath-hold technique, as most of the patients were not cooperative.


  Conclusion Top


From this study, we concluded that MRCP is highly accurate in detecting the presence and defining the level of malignant biliary obstruction. It is a noninvasive, safe, and effective method. Thus, we recommend that MRCP should be performed as the next step after depicting biliary obstruction using US. MRCP will provide the basis for not only subsequent diagnostic protocol but also the suitable therapeutic procedure, whether surgical or interventional.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.



 
  References Top

1.
El-Gendy FM, Hassane FM, Khattab AA, El-Lahony DM, Ashour NM. Predictive ability of first-day serum bilirubin and haptoglobin for subsequent significant hyperbilirubinemia in healthy-term and near-term newborn. Menoufia Med J 2014; 26:127–131.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Ma AH. Analysis of 17 cases of cholangitis by ERCP. Chinese J Endosc 2008; 14:669–670.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Schmidt S, Chevallier P, Novellas S, Gelsi E, Vanbiervliet G, Tran A, et al. Choledocholithiasis: repetitive thick-slab single-shot projection magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography versus endoscopic ultrasonography. Eur Radiol 2007; 17:241–250.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Liu L, Wang W, Sun Q. Analysis of 58 cases of endoscopic biliary stenting for malignant obstructive jaundice. Wuhan Univ Med Sci 2008; 29:632–634.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Ito K, Fujita N, Noda Y, Kobayashi G, Obana T, Horaguchi J, et al. Pancreatic guidewire placement for achieving selective biliary cannulation during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. World J Gastroenterol 2008; 14:5595–5600.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Shen Y, Liu H, Zhang JL. The X-ray contrast diagnosis of malignant obstruction of extrahepatic bile duct. Chin J Prac Med 2009; 4:143–144.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Madhok R, Rastogi S. Role of 3.0 tesla magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in obstructive jaundice with cyto/histopathological or surgical correlation. Int J Sci Stud 2015; 3:1–7.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Okuda H, Shiratori K, Yamamoto M, Takasaki K, Nakano M. Clinicopathologic features of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma who are seropositive for alpha-fetoprotein-L3 and those with combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2006; 21:869–873.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.
Singh A, Mann HS, Thukral CL, Singh NR. Diagnostic accuracy of MRCP as compared to ultrasound/CT in patients with obstructive Jaundice. J Clin Diagn Res 2014; 8:103–107.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.
Zhong L, Yao Q-Y, Li Lei, Xu J-R. Imaging diagnosis of pancreatobiliary diseases: a control study, World J Gastroenterol 2003; 9:2824–2827.  Back to cited text no. 10
    
11.
Hennedige TP, Neo WT, Venkatesh SK. Imaging of malignancies of the biliary tract – an update. Cancer Imaging 2014; 14:14.  Back to cited text no. 11
    
12.
Meong JK, Donald GM, Katstuuyoshi I. Biliary dilatation: differentiation of benign from malignant causes-value of adding conventional MR imaging to MR cholangiopancreaticography. Radiology 2000; 214:173–181.  Back to cited text no. 12
    
13.
Vanderveen KA, Hussain HK. Magnetic resonance imaging of cholangiocarcinoma, Cancer Imaging 2004; 4:104–115.  Back to cited text no. 13
    


    Figures

  [Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3], [Figure 4], [Figure 5], [Figure 6]
 
 
    Tables

  [Table 1]



 

Top
 
 
  Search
 
Similar in PUBMED
   Search Pubmed for
   Search in Google Scholar for
 Related articles
Access Statistics
Email Alert *
Add to My List *
* Registration required (free)

 
  In this article
Abstract
Introduction
Patients and Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
References
Article Figures
Article Tables

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed3051    
    Printed66    
    Emailed0    
    PDF Downloaded213    
    Comments [Add]    

Recommend this journal


[TAG2]
[TAG3]
[TAG4]