Diagnostic usefulness of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in comparison with retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for cholelithiasis

PURPOSE: To elucidate MRCP diagnostic usefulness compared to ERCP. PATIENTS, METHODS: 29 MRCP performed patients diagnosed by ERCP were studied. RESULTS: MRCP showed 92%, 67% sensitivity and 73%, 100% specificity in choledocholithiasis (CBD) and cholecystolithiasis (GB), respectively. MRCP revealed 4.0 false positive and 1.5 false negative in CBD and GB, respectively. MRCP could detect 22 stones out of 33 in CBD and 13 out of 42 in GB. As for the maximal diameter, MRCP depicted 31% for less than 5 mm and 100% for over 6 mm in CBD. In GB, 7% for less than 5 mm, 83% for 6-10 mm and 100% for over 11 mm. CONCLUSION: Although the depection of tiny stone is limited, MRCP is a useful diagnostic tool for cholelithiasis, especially choledocholithiasis.