Diagnostic value of Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP in pancreatobiliary pathologies and evaluation of consistency between observers

In study it was aimed to consider the consistency between observers and effectivity of MRCP method for common pancreatobiliary pathologies. For this purpose, 345 MRCP examinations were considered for the quality of examinations, visibility of biliary trails and the pathologies of pancreatobiliary system, retrospectively. Results were compared by gold standard methods (ERCP; PTC, operation, EUS, clinical monitoring, etc.) that were considered by a gastroenterologist.By the differentiation of normal patients between observers: cholelithiasis, perfect consistency in the determination of acute pancreatitis and presence of a mass; a good consistency in the determination of acute pancreatitis; a mild consistency in the determination of isolated biliary trail dilatation, chronic cholesistitis, benign stricture in biliary trails and in chronic pancreatitis, were considered.Sensitivity and specifity of MRCP was found: 85.4% and 89.3% in determinaiton of normal cases; 74.2% and 98.4% in determination of acute cholesistitis; 90.0% and 97.8% in determination of cholelithisis; 57.6% and 99.0% in determination of choledocholithiasis; 46.7% and 97.2% in determination of benign restriction in biliary trails; 72.7% and 97.2% in determination of mass; 63.6% and 99.7% in determination of acute pancreatitis 57.1% and 99.1% in chronic pancreatitis, respectively. A significant reduction was determined in consistency between observers and specifity in artefact 1 and 2.As a result, MRCP may be used first of all in the determination of cholelithiasis, choledocholithiasis, masses of pancreatobiliary system, acute cholesistitis, acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis, and pancreatobiliary pathologies, effectively and confidently. Nevertheless, a sufficient attention should be paid for the negative effect of quality of examinations and less sensitivity of MRCP in the differentiation of benign-malign and determination of restrictions and in cholelithiasis cases relation with the size of stone and its localization.Key words: Magnetic resonance cholangiography, pancreatobiliary pathologies, choledocholithiasis, ERCP, PTC.