Limited abdominal MRI in the evaluation of acute right upper quadrant pain

Background: We investigated whether limited abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is as effective as transabdominal ultrasound (US) in evaluating patients presenting with acute right upper quadrant pain.Methods: Twenty-four patients underwent evaluation with a limited abdominal MRI using single-shot fast spin-echo sequences and a right upper quadrant US within 24 h. Two MRI and two US readers independently evaluated the images for gallstones, gallbladder wall thickness, pericholecystic fluid, acute cholecystitis, visualization of the common bile duct, and requests for further imaging. US and MRI findings were compared. Surgical pathology was the gold standard.Results: MRI and US demonstrated no statistically significant difference in the diagnosis of gallbladder wall thickening, the presence of gallstones or pericholecystic fluid, or the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis (p > 0.05). The sensitivity of both for acute cholecystitis was 50%, with specificities of 89% and 86% for US and MRI, respectively. US readers more frequently requested additional tests and displayed more variability in whether they could adequately see the common bile duct.Conclusion: Limited MRI is equivalent to US in diagnosing gallstones, gallbladder wall thickening, pericholecystic fluid, and acute cholecystitis in patients presenting with symptoms of acute right upper quadrant pain. Especially in sonographically challenging patients, limited MRI may provide a faster, easier method of diagnosis.     

Vascular and biliary abnormalities mimicking cholangiocarcinoma in patients with cavernous transformation of the portal vein: role of color Doppler sonography.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate the sonographic and color Doppler features of tumorlike biliary and venous changes in patients with cavernous transformation of the portal vein (CTPV). METHODS: The sonographic studies of 24 patients with CTPV were reviewed. Sonographic evaluation of the biliary system included measurement of intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary duct caliber changes and common bile duct (CBD) wall thickening and character. Color Doppler features of the portoportal collateral circulation at various locations (intrahepatic, periportal, gallbladder, pancreatic, and gastric regions) were carefully evaluated. RESULTS: Biliary abnormalities were detected in 13 (54%) of 24 patients with CTPV. All 13 patients (100%) had intrahepatic biliary dilatation; 11 patients (85%) had CBD abnormalities: diffuse CBD wall thickening causing diffuse narrowing of the true lumen in 7 (54%) and CBD dilatation proximal to the focal area of narrowing due to pericholedochal compressing venous collaterals in 4 (30%). A tumorlike solid mass appeared on the gray scale images of 2 patients (8%): 1 at the porta hepatis and the other at the pancreatic head level. Color Doppler imaging evaluation showed venous-type flow, suggesting a bulk of varicosities. CONCLUSIONS: Portoportal collaterals in patients with CTPV may alter the biliary and venous systems, causing biliary wall thickening, stenosis, intrahepatic and extrahepatic dilatation, and pseudotumors. Detailed sonographic and color Doppler imaging assessment can show and facilitate the correct diagnosis of those changes, thus avoiding the need for a more invasive modality such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography or a more expensive investigation such as magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography.     

原发性胆囊癌MRI误诊分析

目的分析MIu误诊的原发性胆囊癌影像表现,以期提高MRJ对原发性胆囊癌诊断的准确性。方法回顾性分析2010年1月-2013年3月15例术前MRI误诊为其他疾病而经手术病理证实的原发性胆囊癌的MRj影像学表现,分析其胆囊壁病灶部位、增强扫描强化方式、胆管扩张及是否伴有胆囊结石等特点。结果5例误诊为肝门部占位伴肝内胆管扩张,7例肝内外胆管扩张者误诊为胆管内肿瘤及炎性狭窄,2例诊断肝右叶占位而胆囊病变误诊为胆囊息肉,1例误诊为结石性胆囊炎。回顾性分析发现12例有胆囊壁增厚（其中局限性增厚9例,弥漫性增厚3例）;增强扫描15例胆囊壁均有不同程度强化,11例动脉期有延迟强化特征;8例患者合并胆囊结石;2例出现胆囊壁结节。结论原发性胆囊癌容易引起肝内、外胆管扩张,胆囊癌可表现为局限性或弥漫性囊壁增厚,常伴有胆囊结石等,MRI诊断时需引起充分注意。     

Sonographic diagnosis of Ascaris-induced cholecystitis and pancreatitis in a child

We describe the sonographic diagnosis of Ascaris-induced acute cholecystitis and pancreatitis in a 2-year-old girl. Abdominal sonography revealed a grossly distended gallbladder with a thick (0.5-cm) wall. The common bile duct was dilated to 0.6 cm without sludge or calculi. The pancreas was hypoechoic, with an enlarged, 3.3-cm pancreatic head. Sonography showed dilatation of the small- and large-bowel loops, with multiple roundworms in duodenal and colonic loops. Sonography has an important role not only in the diagnosis of this uncommon condition but also in the documentation of its unusual etiologic agent.     

Discrimination of gangrenous from uncomplicated acute cholecystitis: Accuracy of CT findings

In acute cholecystitis, the presence of gangrene is associated with higher morbidity and mortality and necessitates open surgical intervention rather than laparoscopic cholecystectomy. As Murphy’s sign may be absent, gangrene may not be detected ultrasonographically. This retrospective study evaluated indications of acute gangrenous cholecystitis on computed tomography (CT) in 25 patients, who were proven as having acute cholecysitis surgically and pathologically within 3 days of pre-operative CT. The CT images were reviewed by two board-certified radiologists blind to the initial CT report. Acute gangrenous cholecystitis was significantly correlated with the CT signs of perfusion defect (PD) of the gallbladder wall (P = 0.02), pericholecystic stranding (PS) (P = 0.028), and no-gallstone condition (No-ST) (P = 0.026). The presence of PD was associated with acute gangrenous cholecystitis with a relatively high accuracy (80%), a sensitivity of 70.6%, a specificity of 100%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 100%, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 61.5%. The combination CT signs of PD or No-ST improved the accuracy for acute gangrenous cholecystitis to 92%, with a sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 88.2%, 100%, 100%, and 80%, respectively. Other CT signs were highly specific for acute gangrenous cholecystitis but of low sensitivity, including mucosal hemorrhage, mucosal sloughing, wall irregularity, pericholecystic abscess, gas formation, and portal venous thrombosis. CT was found to accurately diagnose acute cholecystitis, with the presence of PD, PS, or No-ST significantly correlated with that of gangrenous change. Thus, CT is useful in the preoperative detection of acute gangrenous cholecystitis.     

MSCT后处理技术在诊断胰腺导管内乳头状黏液瘤中的应用

目的 探讨MSCT后处理技术在胰腺导管内乳头状黏液瘤(IPMN)中的诊断价值.方法 对18例经手术病理或超声内镜引导下细针穿刺证实的IPMN患者的临床、病理及MSCT检查资料进行回顾性分析,对MSCT双期增强扫描的原始数据均行MPR、MinIP及CPR,观察病变本身及其与胰管、周围结构的关系.结果 18例IPMN患者中,病变与扩张胰管相通18例(18/18,100%),胰管扩张 >1.0 cm 7例(7/18,38.89%),囊性病变17例(17/18,94.44%),囊实性病变1例(1/18,5.56%).主胰管型6例(6/18,33.33%)、分支胰管型9例(9/18,50.00%)、混合型3例(3/18,16.67%).MPR图像能清晰显示IPMN病变的大小、边界、有无强化的壁结节,也可较好显示病变与扩张胰管间的关系以及病变与周围结构之间的关系;MinIP图像在显示扩张胰管的全貌及病变与扩张胰管间关系等方面优于MPR图像及CPR图像;CPR图像有助于显示主胰管扩张的全貌.结论 利用MSCT多种后处理技术可整体显示病变、扩张胰管以及周围结构,在IPMN诊断方面具有重要价值.     

Intraductal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of Mirizzi syndrome

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Common bile duct (CBD) compression can be caused by stones in the cystic duct (Mirizzi syndrome) which can be difficult to diagnose even with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Conventional imaging often gives insufficient information and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and magnetic resonance imaging may improve diagnostic accuracy, but often the final diagnosis is made during exploratory surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients undergoing ERCP during a 3-year period were prospectively analyzed if they fulfilled the inclusion criteria: gallbladder in situ; obstructive jaundice with CBD stenosis, demonstrated at endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC), but unexplained at ultrasonography; and inability to demonstrate the cystic duct during ERC. Intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) was carried out over a guide wire using a 20-MHz probe. Prior to ERCP, patients were evaluated with abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT), as well as by magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) or EUS in some. RESULTS: 74 patients out of 2089 undergoing ERCP fulfilled the entry criteria. Final diagnoses, from surgical exploration (n = 41), cytology (n = 21), or endoscopic extraction of stones from the cystic duct (n = 12), were Mirizzi syndrome (type I) in 30 patients and other causes in 44 patients (gallbladder carcinoma [n = 16], pancreatic carcinoma [n = 9], metastatic compression [n = 9], other [n = 10]). CT had shown suspected Mirizzi syndrome in 1/30 cases (3 %) and MRCP in 12/19 evaluated cases (63 %). EUS allowed a correct diagnosis in 11 of 15 evaluated cases (73 %). IDUS required an additional 8 +/- 3 min and showed a sensitivity of 97 % and specificity of 100 %. CONCLUSION: IDUS is a sensitive and specific method for the diagnosis of Mirizzi syndrome.     

Emergency Biliary Sonography: Utility of Common Bile Duct Measurement in the Diagnosis of Cholecystitis and Choledocholithiasis

Background

Measurement of the common bile duct (CBD) has traditionally been considered an integral part of gallbladder sonography, but accurate identification of the CBD can be difficult for novice sonographers.

Objective

To determine the prevalence of isolated sonographic CBD dilation in emergency department (ED) patients with cholecystitis or choledocholithiasis without laboratory abnormalities or other pathologic findings on biliary ultrasound.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective chart review on two separate ED patient cohorts between June 2000 and June 2010. The first cohort comprised all ED patients undergoing a biliary ultrasound and subsequent cholecystectomy for presumed cholecystitis. The second cohort consisted of all ED patients receiving a biliary ultrasound who were ultimately diagnosed with choledocholithiasis. Ultrasound data and contemporaneous laboratory values were collected. Postoperative gallbladder pathology reports and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) reports were used as the criterion standard for final diagnosis.

Results

Of 666 cases of cholecystitis, there were 251 (37.7%) with a dilated CBD > 6 mm and only 2 cases (0.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.0–0.7%) of isolated CBD dilation with an otherwise negative ultrasound and normal laboratory values. Of 111 cases of choledocholithiasis, there were 80 (72.0%) with a dilated CBD and only 1 case (0.9%; 95% CI 0.0–2.7%) with an otherwise negative ultrasound and normal laboratory values.

Conclusion

The prevalence of isolated sonographic CBD dilation in cholecystitis and choledocholithiasis is <1%. Omission of CBD measurement is unlikely to result in missed cholecystitis or choledocholithiasis in the setting of a routine ED evaluation with an otherwise normal ultrasound and normal laboratory values.     

超声检查对先天性胆管囊状扩张症的诊断价值

目的探讨超声诊断先天性胆管囊状扩张症的价值。方法回顾性分析50例先天性胆管囊状扩张症患者的临床资料,分析超声检查对其的诊断价值。结果 50例先天性胆管囊状扩张症患者超声正确诊断48例,诊断符合率96.0%,误诊2例,1例Ⅰ型患者误诊为胰腺囊肿,1例Ⅴ型患者误诊为多发肝囊肿。44%患者合并结石,2%患者合并癌变,30%患者合并胆囊炎、胆囊结石。结论超声诊断先天性胆管囊状扩张症具有较高的诊断准确率,在诊断过程中为避免误诊、漏诊应注意鉴别诊断。     

Effect of cholecystectomy on common bile duct diameters: a longitudinal prospective ultrasonographic study

The medium-term effect of cholecystectomy on common bile duct diameters (CBD) was investigated prospectively in 64 patients with gallstone disease examined by ultrasonography immediately before and 27 months to 39 months after the operation. In 32 patients with chronic cholecystitis and patent cystic ducts, CBD diameters increased slightly (median 4.6 mm pre- and 5.3 mm postoperatively; p less than 0.05). A group of 19 patients with acute cholecystitis or cystic duct occlusion showed a significant decrease (median 7.7 mm pre- and 5.5 mm postoperatively; p less than 0.05). In 13 patients with common bile duct stones, the CBD diameters also decreased significantly after surgical intervention (median 7.5 mm pre- and 5.0 mm postoperatively; p less than 0.05). The widest CBD diameter after cholecystectomy observed in this study was 10 mm. We conclude that either increases or decreases of the CBD diameters may occur after cholecystectomy in patients with calculous gallbladder disease, and that the postoperative evolution is governed by the exact nature of the underlying biliary disease at the time of the index operation.     

无黄疸型胰头癌的螺旋CT表现及其临床意义

目的探讨无黄疸型胰头癌的螺旋CT表现及其临床意义。材料和方法回顾性分析经手术、病理及临床证实为无黄疸型胰头癌,具有完整临床和螺旋CT资料者共计17例。临床资料包括患者症状、体征和实验室检查(T.B.、CA-19-9)。CT资料包括胰头癌肿块位置、大小、密度、边界,胆、胰管及胆囊异常,胰腺周围脏器结构(肠系膜血管、门静脉、下腔静脉、腹主动脉周围)有无受侵,以及远处转移。结果本组17例无黄疸型胰头癌中,腰背部不适和/或腹痛13例;慢性腹泻4例;血T.B.值在正常或轻微超出正常值范围;血CA19-9阳性率高。螺旋CT表现均有肿块,胰头前份8例,钩突内侧9例,肿块大小2.5~5.5cm,平均3.3cm,肿块均呈较低或低密度,强化不明显,边缘不清;伴胆总管和胆囊扩张4例,胰管扩张11例;肠系膜血管和/或门静脉,和/或下腔静脉被部分或全部包埋12例;腹腔干及腹主动脉周围软组织浸润8例;淋巴结肿大和/或远处转移9例。结论螺旋CT对揭示无黄疸型胰头癌CT表现特征及其临床意义有价值。     

MR imaging of the gallbladder

T2-weighted imaging and MRCP, which have high sensitivity to edema and fluid, are paramount in the evaluation of certain gallbladder diseases, such as cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, adenomyomatosis, and cystic duct abnormalities. Dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging has the potential to differentiate among the many nonspecific-appearing lesions involving the gallbladder. MR imaging may not yet replace ultrasound as the workhorse of acute gallbladder imaging. Currently, MRCP is an ideal complementary study to inconclusive sonographic studies and can help plan surgical intervention in the setting of acute cholecystitis. Further investigation of hepatobiliary contrast agents, however, may reveal that MR imaging may be considered as first-line imaging in the acute setting.     

Rare variant of pancreaticobiliary maljunction associated with pancreas divisum in a child diagnosed and treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: A case report

BACKGROUND Pancreaticobiliary maljunction(PBM) is an uncommon congenital anomaly of the pancreatic and biliary ductal system, defined as a union of the pancreatic and biliary ducts located outside the duodenal wall. According to the Komi classification of PBM, the common bile duct(CBD) directly fuses with the ventral pancreatic duct in all types. Pancreas divisum(PD) occurs when the ventral and dorsal ducts of the embryonic pancreas fail to fuse during the second month of fetal development. The coexistence of PBM and PD is an infrequent condition.Here, we report an unusual variant of PBM associated with PD in a pediatric patient, in whom an anomalous communication existed between the CBD and dorsal pancreatic duct.CASE SUMMARY A boy aged 4 years and 2 mo was hospitalized for abdominal pain with nausea and jaundice for 5 d. Abdominal ultrasound showed cholecystitis with cholestasis in the gallbladder, dilated middle-upper CBD, and a strong echo in the lower CBD, indicating biliary stones. The diagnosis was extrahepatic biliary obstruction caused by biliary stones, which is an indication for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP). ERCP was performed to remove biliary stones. During the ERCP, we found a rare communication between the CBD and dorsal pancreatic duct. After clearing the CBD with a balloon, an 8.5 Fr 4-cm pigtail plastic pancreatic stent was placed in the biliary duct through the major papilla. Six months later, his biliary stent was removed after he had no symptoms and normal laboratory tests. In the following 4-year period, the child grew up normally with no more attacks of abdominal pain.CONCLUSION We consider that ERCP is effective and safe in pediatric patients with PBM combined with PD, and can be the initial therapy to manage such cases,especially when it is combined with aberrant communication between the CBD and dorsal pancreatic duct.     

Dilatation of the cystic duct in patients with obstructive jaundice

Background: It is well known that obstructive jaundice causes biliary dilatation, but sonographic (US) findings of the cystic duct in patients with obstructive jaundice are rarely reported. Methods: We reviewed US findings in 25 such patients. Results: US findings of dilated cystic duct could be divided roughly into two patterns: tortuous and tubular. The former pattern was a tortuously dilated cystic duct arising from the gallbladder neck, running predominantly deeply, turning anteromedially, and then joining the posterior face of the common hepatic duct. The latter pattern was a straight dilated cystic duct running parallel with the common hepatic duct, giving the appearance of a septated bile duct. Conclusion: A better understanding of the US findings of dilated cystic duct translates into improved biliary US diagnosis.     

Biliary parasitic diseases including clonorchiasis,opisthorchiasis and fascioliasis

Parasitic infection of the biliary tree is caused by liver flukes, namely Clonorchis sinensis and Opisthorchis viverrini. These flukes reside in the peripheral small bile ducts of the liver and produce chronic inflammation of the bile duct, bile duct dilatation, mechanical obstruction, and bile duct wall thickening. On imaging, peripheral small intrahepatic bile ducts are dilated, but the large bile ducts and extrahepatic bile ducts are not dilated or slightly dilated. There is no visible caused of obstruction. Sometimes, in heavy infection, adult flukes are demonstrated on sonography, CT or MR cholangiography as small intraluminal lesions. The flukes in the gallbladder may appear as floating, small objects on sonography. Chronic infection may result in cholangiocarcinoma of the liver parenchyma or along the bile ducts. Human infection of Fasciola hepatica, a cattle flukes, may occur inadvertently, and the flukes migrate in the liver (hepatic phase) and reside the bile ducts (biliary phase). Image findings in the hepatic phase present with multiple, small, clustered, necrotic cavities or abscesses in the peripheral parts of the liver, showing “tunnels and caves” sign, reflecting parasite migration in the liver parenchyma. In the biliary phase, the flukes are demonstrated in the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts and the gallbladder as small intraluminal flat objects, sometimes moving spontaneously. Bile ducts are dilated.     

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: a radiological study of 12 cases and a review of the literature

Background: Twelve cases of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) are presented, and their radiologic appearance is described. Methods: Four men and eight women, aged 31–82 years old, with XGC were reviewed. Abdominal ultrasound (US) was performed in all patients. Computed tomography (CT) was performed in five patients, barium enema examination in two, and percutaneously CT-guided fine-needle aspirative biopsy of the gallbladder in one. Results: Barium enema examination showed an indentation of the hepatic flexure. Cholelithiasis was present in all patients, and sludge was present in six. The gallbladder wall was thickened in all patients, irregular in nine, and could not be properly differentiated from surrounding liver parenchyma or from other adjacent structures in most patients. A curvilinear halo, hypoechoic on US and with low attenuation on CT, within the gallbladder wall was found in three patients and pericholecystic fluid in two others. On CT, the pericholecystic fat had streaky soft tissue densities in three cases. Percutaneously CT-guided fine-needle aspirative biopsy of the gallbladder was nondiagnostic. The diagnosis of gallbladder carcinoma was considered preoperatively in three patients. Conclusion: Despite the characteristic histologic appearance of XCG, radiologic findings are nonspecific, varying from signs observed in other forms of cholecystitis to the appearance of a gallbladder neoplasm. Received: 5 April 1995/Accepted: 15 May 1995     

Extrapancreatic neural plexus invasion by pancreatic carcinoma: characteristics on magnetic resonance imaging

Background: Our objective is to study the characteristics of extrapancreatic neural plexus invasion by pancreatic carcinoma on MR imaging. Methods: 20 patients with both pancreatic carcinoma and extrapancreatic neural plexus invasion confirmed by pathology were recruited in this study. MR imaging was performed within 1 month before surgery. On MR images, signal intensity at the site of potential extrapancreatic neural plexus invasion, lymph nodes and tumor size were noted. The relationship of extrapancreatic neural plexus invasion to these findings was analyzed. Results: Signs of extrapancreatic neural plexus invasion were depicted on MR imaging in 80% of patients, which included streaky and strand-like signal intensity structure in fat tissue in 50% of patients and irregular masses adjacent to tumor in 30%. Signal intensity at invasion site was similar to that of pancreatic carcinoma. The frequencies of patients with vascular invasion and with lymph nodes larger than 5 mm were, respectively, 50% and 55%. Tumor diameter was 24 ± 7 mm on MR imaging. Extrapancreatic neural plexus invasion was correlated with vascular invasion (r = 0.58, P < 0.005), slightly related with lymphadenopathy (r = 0.35, 0.1 > P > 0.05), but not related with tumor size. Conclusion: MR imaging is useful to depict extrapancreatic neural plexus invasion by pancreatic carcinoma.     

Color Doppler sonography of the cystic artery: comparison of normal controls and patients with acute cholecystitis.

Color Doppler sonography was used to evaluate the length and distribution of the cystic artery in the gallbladder wall in 115 normal adults and in 54 patients with surgically proved cholecystitis. All patients were scanned with a 5 MHz curved array transducer optimized for low volume color sensitivity. A specific attempt was made to visualize the cystic artery throughout its course. Spectral Doppler waveforms were obtained to document arterial flow. The length of the cystic artery visualized was analyzed as a quartile percentage length of the anterior gallbladder wall. The distribution of the cystic artery flow also was analyzed in specific quartiles. Of 54 patients with acute cholecystitis, 26% had cystic artery length greater than half of the anterior gallbladder wall, compared with 2% of 115 normal controls (P < 0.001); 19% of patients with cholecystitis had flow in the distal (fundal) quartile, compared to 0% of normal controls (P < 0.0001). Although the presence or absence of flow in the gallbladder is not a reliable finding to establish the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis, length of cystic artery visualized is a potentially useful criterion to suggest the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis, especially in cases in which flow in the distal fundal quartile of the gallbladder. The usefulness of color Doppler sonography in acute cholecystitis is limited owing to the fact that it is insensitive, and many patients with cholecystitis have no detectable flow or have normal flow patterns.     

Measurement of the apparent diffusion coefficient in intraductal mucin-producing tumor of the pancreas by diffusion-weighted echo-planar MR imaging

BACKGROUND: We investigated whether diffusion-weighted echo-planar magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can help differentiate intraductal mucin-producing tumors of the pancreas from other cystic lesions. METHODS: Diffusion-weighted echo-planar MR imaging was performed in patients with mucin-producing tumors (n = 19), pseudocysts (n = 9), chronic pancreatitis with diffuse main pancreatic dilatation (n = 5), and serous cystadenomas (n = 2). Images were obtained with diffusion sensitizing gradients of 30, 300, and 900 s/mm2. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was calculated. RESULTS: The mean (+/- standard deviation) ADCs of mucin-producing tumors (2.8 x 10(-3) mm2/s +/- 1.0 x 10(-3)), pseudocysts (2.9 x 10(-3) mm2/s +/- 1.2 x 10(-3)), dilated main pancreatic duct in chronic pancreatitis (3.3 x 10(-3) mm2/s +/- 1.2 x 10(-3)), serous cystadenomas (2.9 x 10(-3) and 2.6 x 10(-3) mm2/s), and cerebrospinal fluid (3.5 x 10A(-3) mm2/s +/- 1.1 x 10(-3)) were not statistically different. CONCLUSION: It is difficult to differentiate between mucin-producing tumors and other cystic lesions by ADC measurements when using diffusion-weighted echo-planar MR imaging.     

AIDS-related cholangiopancreatographic changes

The cholangiographic and pancreatographic appearances of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) associated cholangitis were evaluated in 26 patients. Twenty-four patients were diagnosed by retrograde cholangiography or endoscopic cholangiopancreatography (ERC or ERCP). One patient was diagnosed by T-tube cholangiography and another patient by transhepatic cholangiography. The radiographic findings ranged from intrahepatic ductal abnormalities with or without involvement of the extrahepatic biliary tree (eight patients) to irregularities and strictures involving the ampulla of Vater or the intrapancreatic portion of the common bile duct (CBD) with proximal dilatation (18 patients). Significant strictures involving the juxta-ampullary pancreatic duct were identified in six of 12 patients. Twenty-one of the 26 patients had associated infections which included: Cryptosporidium (CS), Mycobacterium avium intracellulare (MAI), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Microsporidium (MSP), and Isospora (ISP). Three patients were operated upon for acute acalculous cholecystitis. In each instance, organisms were identified in both the bile duct and the inflamed gallbladder.An editorial commentary on this article follows on pp. 423–424.