Imaging of primary sclerosing cholangitis: preliminary results by two new non-invasive techniques.

Background: Magnetic resonance cholangiography is a new technique which has already gained a role in primary sclerosing cholangitis. Computerised tomographic cholangiography is another non-invasive technique which has been used in assessing abnormal biliary tree, but has never been applied to evaluating primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Aims: To evaluate the ability of both magnetic resonance cholangiography and computerised tomographic cholangiography to detect bile duct changes in primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Patients And Methods: Magnetic resonance cholangiography and computerised tomographic cholangiography were performed in 16 primary sclerosing cholangitis patients. The computerised tomographic cholangiography data set was transferred to a processing workstation to obtain tridimensional reconstructions. Magnetic resonance cholangiography and computerised tomographic cholangiography images were analysed blind by two radiologists to assess: primary sclerosing cholangitis involvement, quality of imaging and the radiologist's certainty in determining the presence and location of the disease.

Results: Mean imaging quality was significantly better with computerised tomographic cholangiography compared with magnetic resonance cholangiography. Primary sclerosing cholangitis was identified in 15 cases with computerised tomographic cholangiography and 10 with magnetic resonance cholangiography (P < 0.05). Sensitivity in diagnosing primary sclerosing cholangitis was 94% with computerised tomographic cholangiography versus 63% with magnetic resonance cholangiography. Intrahepatic location was found in 14 cases, definitely present in 10 cases with computerised tomographic cholangiography and five with magnetic resonance cholangiography. Extrahepatic location was found in 13 cases, definitely present in 11 cases with computerised tomographic cholangiography and four with magnetic resonance cholangiography (P < 0.05). Computerised tomographic cholangiography also offered dynamic information about biliary excretion.

Conclusions: Computerised tomographic cholangiography enables more accurate detection and location of primary sclerosing cholangitis than magnetic resonance cholangiography. Since computerised tomographic cholangiography offers additional information about biliary excretion, it may be proposed as an integrative technique in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis.