Efficacy and problems of MRCP in pediatric patients with choledochal cysts

Evaluation of biliary anatomy and arrangement of the pancreatobiliary maljunction is critically important in patients with choledochal cysts before surgical therapy. Although endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has been a golden standard for preoperative evaluation of choledochal cysts, there are some difficulties in performing this method in pediatric patients due to its invasiveness. Recently, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography (MRCP) was developed and has been established as a less invasive diagnostic modality for the pancreatobiliary duct system. We applied MRCP for ten pediatric patients with choledochal cysts. The bile duct system was successfully visualized in all cases. Images of pancreatobiliary maljunction were provided from MRCP in 5 of 9 patients who underwent MRCP before operation. In conclusion, MRCP is a less invasive and quite useful diagnostic modality for imaging of the pancreatobiliary duct system in pediatric patients with choledochal cysts. (author)