ABSTRACT

In this study, MRCP findings were well correlated with ERCP findings and MRCP decreased the rate of unnecessary diagnostic ERCP procedures.

The mean age of the 120 patients with obstructive jaundice (73 females, 47 males ) was 62 years. There was a positive correlation between MRCP and ERCP findings in 53 of 56, in 44 of 45 and 4 of 19 patients in the three groups, respectively. Moreover, the underlying pathology in 15 of 19 patients with normal findings in MRCP could be detected with ERCP. The overall correlation of MRCP with ERCP was 84% and this correlation was statistically significant (p=0.015).

Findings of 120 patients who had undergone ERCP after MRCP because of obstructive jaundice in our clinic between 2010 and 2013 were compared in the study. The patients were divided into three groups according to MRCP findings. Patients with calculi, sludge, and dilatation of the bile duct (group 1), subjects with external pressure in the common bile duct, cancer, stricture and dilatation of the common bile duct (group 2) and those with normal findings (group 3) constituted these three groups. Since all patients in the groups underwent ERCP after MRCP, ERCP findings were evaluated and compared according to previous MRCP results using a chi-square test.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is used in the diagnosis and treatment of mechanical obstructive jaundice. Since ERCP is an invasive interventional procedure and because of its complications, ERCP should be supported by previous magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). We aimed to evaluate the place of MRCP-guided ERCP as a diagnostic method.