Role of CT and MRCP in Evaluation of Biliary Tract Obstruction

• Published in: Current radiology reports (Philadelphia, PA ) PA ), 2014-11, Vol.2 (11), Article 72
• Main Authors: Joshi, Anagha, Rajpal, Kishore, Kakadiya, Ketan, Bansal, Ashank
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdominal CT Imaging; Abdominal CT Imaging (A Joshi; Imaging; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Radiology; Section Editor
• ISSN: 2167-4825; 2167-4825
• DOI: 10.1007/s40134-014-0072-x

Obstructive jaundice which is caused by bile duct obstruction can be clinically and biochemically indistinguishable from cholestatic jaundice caused by hepatocellular disease. The management of both these conditions being radically different, the principle task of the radiologist is to differentiate between hepatocellular and obstructive jaundice, using available imaging modality and help in further management. With the availability of non-invasive modality like computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it is possible to diagnose obstructive jaundice early and accurately without any patient discomfort. The purpose of this article is to describe the protocol for evaluation of obstructive jaundice with use of MDCT and magnetic resonance cholangio pancreatography sequence of MRI and to describe the imaging features of the most common causes of obstructive jaundice like biliary calculi, bile duct strictures, choledochal cyst, gall bladder carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and pancreatic head carcinoma.