The usefulness of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in diagnosing of pancreaticobiliary maljunction in children

The usefulness and limitations of MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in diagnosing pancreaticobiliary maljunction in children was investigated in this study. Eighteen children with pancreaticobiliary maljunction underwent preoperative MRCP and intra-operative cholangiopancreatography (IOCP). They were divided into 13 children whose common channels were detected with MRCP (Group A) and other 5 whose common channels were not detected (Group B). Age, body height and body weight in Group A (61.3±31.7 months, 105.8±18.2 cm, 19.0±7.0 kg) were significantly different from those in Group B (21.8±8.3 months, 82.1±10.0 cm, 10.2±1.8 kg). We regarded 30 months, 90 cm and 12 kg as cut off figures based on the values of mean -SD for each item in Group A and mean +SD in Group B. In 9 of 10 patients over the cut off figures, the common channels were found in MRCP. There was no significant difference in the form of the common bile duct and the mean length of the common channels. In 7 children, a significant correlation was seen between the length of the common channel in MRCP and that in IOCP (p=0.04, R=0.77, Y=5.743+0.817X). We suggest that MRCP is useful in diagnosing of pancreaticobiliary maljunction in children over 2 years and 6 months of age. The length of the common channel and the form of the common bile duct do not influence the usefulness of MRCP. (author)