Case 329: Intracholecystic Papillary Neoplasm of the Gallbladder.

HISTORY: A 45-year-old female patient who was previously healthy presented after several weeks of fullness in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. The patient did not experience pain, nausea, vomiting, or jaundice, and had no contributory past medical or surgical history, including no history of malignancy. Upon examination, vital signs were within normal limits and the patient appeared well, with soft palpable fullness in the right upper quadrant. The abdomen was nontender and nondistended. Laboratory investigation revealed no abnormalities, with a normal complete blood cell count and normal serum tumor markers that included α-fetoprotein (<2.0 ng/mL; reference, <8.3 ng/mL), cancer antigen 19-9 (21.6 U/mL; reference, <35 U/mL), and carcinoembryonic antigen (1.3 ng/mL; reference, <5 ng/mL). CT of the abdomen and pelvis was performed with intravenous contrast material in the emergency department. Subsequently, combined MRI and MR cholangiopancreatography of the abdomen was performed with and without intravenous contrast material for further evaluation. CT of the chest performed during the same encounter was unremarkable.

Minimally invasive treatment of an internal pancreaticopleural fistula with massive pleural effusion: a case report.

BACKGROUND: A pancreatic duct rupture can lead to various complications such as a fistula, pseudocyst, ascites, or walled-off necrosis. Due to pleural effusion, pancreaticopleural fistula typically causes dyspnea and chest pain. Leaks of enzyme-rich pancreatic fluid forming a pleural effusion can be verified in a thoracocentesis following radiological imaging such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance tomography. While management strategies range from a conservative to endoscopic and surgical approach, we report a case with successful minimally invasive treatment of pancreaticopleural fistula and effusion. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a patient with pancreaticopleural fistula and successful minimally invasive surgical treatment. A 62-year old Caucasian man presented with acute chest pain and dyspnea. A computed tomography scan identified a left-sided cystoid formation, extending from the abdominal cavity into the left hemithorax with concomitant pleural effusion. Pleural effusion analysis indicated significantly elevated pancreatic enzymes. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed a rupture of the pancreatic duct and nearby fluid accumulation. Endosonography later confirmed proximity to the tail of the pancreas, suggesting a pancreatic pseudocyst with visible tract into the pancreas. We assumed a pancreatic duct rupture with a fistula from the tail of the pancreas transdiaphragmatically into the left hemithorax with a commencing pleural empyema. A visceral and parietal decortication on the left hemithorax and a laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy was performed. The suspected diagnosis of a fistula arising from the pancreatic duct was confirmed histologically. CONCLUSION: Pancreaticopleural fistulas often have a long course and may remain undiagnosed for a long time. At this point diagnostic management and therapy demand a high level of expertise. In instances of unclear symptomatic pleural effusion, considering an abdominal focus is crucial. If endoscopic treatment is not feasible, minimally invasive surgery should strongly be considered, especially when located in the distal pancreas.

Haemobilia as a primary presentation of cholangiocarcinoma.

We present a case of haemobilia as a primary presentation for underlying cholangiocarcinoma. A man in his 50s initially presented to emergency with Quincke's triad, RUQ pain, jaundice and UGI bleeding. The initial diagnosis of haemobilia was made on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) on primary presentation, but the presence of blood and the recurrent clot obstruction of the biliary tract made the underlying diagnosis extremely difficult, resulting in the patient having 4 ERCP, 1 spyglass and multiple CTs and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. Eventually, the patient underwent a Whipple's procedure without tissue diagnosis, confirming cholangiocarcinoma on histopathology. This case emphasises the difficulty of diagnosis of underlying malignancy in the setting of haemobilia, the benefit of multidisciplinary meeting discussions to support significant interventions and the need to be cautious and curious when managing atypical presentations.

Contrast-Enhanced T1-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Cholangiography Using Gadoxetate Disodium in Potential Living Liver Donors: Qualitative and Quantitative Improvement with 3-hour Delayed Imaging.

BACKGROUND: Contrast-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance cholangiography (CE-T1-MRC) after gadoxetate disodium administration can be used for preoperative evaluation of the bile ducts in live liver donors. This study aimed to determine whether CE-T1-MRC with 3-hour delayed imaging improves bile duct visualization both qualitatively and quantitatively compared with 20-minute delayed imaging in potential living liver donors. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 33 potential living liver donors (mean age, 30.1 years; 18 men and 15 women) who underwent preoperative CE-T1-MRC with both 20-minute delayed and 3-hour delayed imaging in a single session. The radiologist scored biliary visualization for right and left hepatic ducts (RHD and LHD), their secondary confluences and segmental bile ducts, common hepatic duct (CHD), and cystic duct (CD), and measured relative contrast ratio (rC) and relative signal intensity (rS) for RHD, LHD, and CHD. The data were analyzed using Wilcoxon's signed-rank test and paired t-test. RESULTS: In qualitative analysis, duct visualization scores for RHD and LHD, their secondary confluences and segmental bile ducts, CHD, and CD were significantly higher on CE-T1-MRC with 3-hour delayed imaging than with 20-minute delayed imaging (all, P ≤ .046). In quantitative analysis, both rC and rS of RHD, LHD, and CHD were significantly higher on CE-T1-MRC with 3-hour delayed imaging than with 20-minute delayed imaging (all, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: CE-T1-MRC with 3-hour delay imaging improves bile duct visualization both qualitatively and quantitatively in potential living liver donors.

Trend in predictive factors of choledocholithiasis: the key to the management of pediatric patients with suspected gallstones. / Tendencia en los factores predictivos de coledocolitiasis: la clave para el manejo de pacientes pediátricos con sospecha de cálculos en la vía biliar.

OBJECTIVES: To reduce the overuse of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography and the rates of non-therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in pediatric patients suspected of choledocholithiasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of patients suspected of choledocholithiasis between January 2010 and June 2023. Patients with cholangitis or two or more of the following predictive factors of choledocholithiasis in initial laboratory tests and ultrasound were categorized as high-risk group: total bilirubin level ≥ 2 mg/dl, common bile duct > 6 millimeters on ultrasound; and detection of choledocholithiasis by ultrasound. Patients were recategorized according to the results of the second set of laboratory and ultrasound analysis. Confirmatory modalities (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and/or intraoperative cholangiography) were used to evaluate the presence of choledocholithiasis. Finally, we assessed the predictive capability of both the initial high-risk group and the group after recategorization. RESULTS: A total of 129 patients were included. After initial studies, 72 (55.8%) patients were classified into the high-risk group. After recategorization, only 29 (22.5%) patients were included in this group. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of the initial high-risk group were 89.3%, 53.5%, 34.7%, 94.7%, and 61.2%, respectively, while after recategorization, they were 82.1%, 94.1%, 79.3%, 95.0%, and 91.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Recategorization of the risk of choledocholithiasis would significantly improve the diagnostic accuracy of choledocholithiasis and help reduce the overuse of more complex and unnecessary studies/procedures.

OBJETIVOS: Disminuir la sobre indicación de la colangiorresonancia y las tasas de colangiopancreatografía retrógrada endoscópica o terapéuticas en pacientes pediátricos con sospecha de coledocolitiasis. MATERIAL Y METODOS: Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes con sospecha de coledocolitiasis entre enero de 2010 y junio de 2023. Los pacientes con colangitis o dos o más de los siguientes factores predictivos de coledocolitiasis en las pruebas de laboratorio y ecografía iniciales, se categorizaron como grupo de alto riesgo: nivel de bilirrubina total ≥ 2 mg/dl, colédoco > 6 milímetros en ecografía; y la detección de coledocolitiasis por ecografía. Los pacientes fueron recategorizados de acuerdo a los resultados del segundo conjunto de análisis de laboratorio y ecografía. Para evaluar la presencia de coledocolitiasis se utilizaron modalidades confirmatorias (colangiorresonancia, colangiopancreatografía retrógrada endoscópica y/o colangiografía intraoperatoria). Finalmente, evaluamos la capacidad predictiva tanto del grupo de alto riesgo inicial como del grupo después de la recategorización. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 129 pacientes. Luego de los estudios iniciales, 72 (55,8%) pacientes se clasificaron en el grupo de alto riesgo. Luego de la recategorización, solo 29 (22,5%) pacientes fueron incluidos dentro de este grupo. La sensibilidad, especificidad, valor predictivo positivo, valor predictivo negativo y precisión diagnóstica del grupo de alto riesgo inicial fueron de 89,3%, 53,5%, 34,7%, 94,7% y 61,2%, mientras que luego de la recategorización fueron de 82,1%, 94,1%, 79,3%, 95,0% y 91,5%, respectivamente. CONCLUSIONES: La recategorización del riesgo de coledocolitiasis, mejoraría significativamente la precisión diagnóstica de coledocolitiasis y ayudaría a disminuir la sobre indicación de estudios/procedimientos complejos e innecesarios.

Assessment of disease severity with magnetic resonance cholangiography in pediatric-onset primary sclerosing cholangitis.

OBJECTIVES: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography (MRCP) has supplanted endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) as the preferred imaging modality for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). However, data about the accuracy of MRCP in assessing disease severity are limited, particularly in children. We assessed the accuracy of MRCP in disease severity evaluation and investigated the correlation between imaging findings and biochemical parameters (including the multivariate risk index SCOPE) in patients with pediatric-onset PSC. METHODS: We included 36 patients with PSC (median age: 16) who had MRCP and ERCP performed within 4-month intervals. Two experts, blinded to ERCP findings, evaluated the bile duct changes in consensus using the Modified Amsterdam PSC Score. The agreement between MRCP and ERCP evaluations was tested with weighted kappa statistics and the correlation between disease severity and biochemical parameters with Spearman's rank correlation. RESULTS: The agreement between MRCP and ERCP was good for extrahepatic (weighted kappa 0.69; 95% confidence of interval [CI] 0.53-0.84) but fair for intrahepatic (weighted kappa 0.35; 95% CI 0.14-0.56) bile ducts. Intrahepatic and extrahepatic MRCP scores correlated with APRI (ρ = 0.42, p = 0.020 and ρ = 0.39, p = 0.033, respectively), while extrahepatic MRCP score also correlated with biliary neutrophils (ρ = 0.36, p = 0.035). We found a good correlation between the SCOPE index and intrahepatic MRCP score (ρ = 0.53, p = 0.004), and extrahepatic MRCP score (ρ = 0.57, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: MRCP is accurate at evaluating the severity of extrahepatic bile duct changes in pediatric-onset PSC but tends to underestimate intrahepatic changes. The SCOPE index's robust correlation with imaging scores supports its role as a comprehensive diagnostic tool, outperforming individual laboratory metrics.

Multiple intraductal papillary neoplasms of bile duct diagnosed based on endoscopic ultrasonography and peroral cholangioscopy findings.

A man in his 30s was referred to our department for evaluation of bile duct stricture and removal of an intrahepatic bile duct stone. Five years before his presentation, he underwent left hepatectomy for a giant hepatic hemangioma. There were no abnormalities in blood biochemical tests. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed one 5 mm oval defect in region B6 and two 8 mm semicircular defects in the hilar bile duct. Endoscopic ultrasound revealed a 3.5 mm hypoechoic focal raised lesion in the hilar bile duct. Oral cholangioscopy revealed his two lesions in the hilar bile duct as white papillary elevations with mucus production. The pathological diagnosis of intraductal papillary neoplasm was determined (low-grade dysplasia, type 1, gastric type). After 1 and a half years, no expansion of the bile duct lesion was observed. Initially, it was thought to be a benign stenosis after liver resection, but based on the results of endoscopic ultrasound, we suspected a tumorous lesion, and we were able to make an accurate diagnosis, including histological type, using transoral cholangioscopy.

Biliary Ascariasis in a Pediatric Patient in Lithuania: Case Report and Literature Review.

Hepatobiliary ascariasis is caused by the entry of the nematode A. lumbricoides from the duodenum into the biliary duct. We report a case of an Ascaris-induced extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction in a pediatric patient admitted to the hospital due to a wide spectrum of symptoms of biliary disease, which included abdominal pain in the upper abdominal quadrants, vomiting, and jaundice. Imaging tests-including ultrasound, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP), and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-were performed to confirm the diagnosis of biliary ascariasis. The tests did, in fact, demonstrate signs of this disease. Nevertheless, during the ERCP, only the remains of Ascaris parasites in the form of tissue fragments were extracted. We also aim to discuss the prevalence of ascariasis in children, the causes of migration of Ascaris parasites into the bile ducts, together with its clinical manifestations, as well as the diagnostic and treatment methods of this disease.

[Prognosis of a high risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the long-term period of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the elderly and senile.]

After cholecystectomy, elderly patients require special attention, due to the influence of involution processes in the body on the formation of complications. To identify prognostic criteria for the formation of fatty liver degeneration in the long-term period of minimally invasive cholecystectomy, 159 men were examined. Dysregulation of the biliary tract was determined using magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, elastography and magnetic resonance imaging of the liver. Microbial markers of the wall microbiome of the intestine were determined using chromatography-mass spectrometry. The relationship between an increase in body mass index and a decrease in the amount of obligate microbiome (r=-0,43, p<0,050), as well as with the formation of fatty liver degeneration in elderly patients, was revealed. The features of vegetative regulation in elderly people with fatty liver degeneration have been determined. It has been proven that in old age, a decrease in the number of obligate anaerobic association of microorganisms of the small intestine (on average from 15 659 to 7 630 in persons of the 2nd age subgroup and from 1 457 to 17 837 in the 3rd) is a predictor of fatty liver degeneration. The prognostic algorithm developed on the basis of the analysis of highly informative signs makes it possible to identify with an accuracy of at least 75% a high risk of fatty liver degeneration in the long-term period of cholecystectomy.

A suspected case of serum IgG4-negative type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis detected due to localized pancreatic duct narrowing: a case report.

A 50-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with elevated serum amylase levels. Physical examination revealed no jaundice or abdominal tenderness. Serum IgG4 was negative. Computed tomography revealed a localized pancreatic duct narrowing in the pancreatic head, with caudal pancreatic duct dilation and an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm. Pancreatic enlargement was not observed. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) showed a small hypoechoic mass. Although EUS-guided, fine-needle aspiration was performed, no diagnosis was established. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatography showed a localized narrowing in the main pancreatic duct of the pancreatic head. A biopsy of the narrowing was performed through the minor papilla because of difficult access from the major papilla. The specimen showed the infiltration of numerous IgG4-positive plasma cells, suggesting type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). Six months later, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed improvement in the narrowing without specific treatment. The patient presented with localized narrowing of the pancreatic duct and caudal duct dilation, which was distinct from pancreatic cancer. Diagnostic difficulties arose from negative serum IgG4 results, the lack of typical imaging characteristics of AIP, and failure to meet the AIP criteria according to the relevant Japanese and international guidelines. However, AIP was suspected and surgery was successfully avoided through a biopsy.

A case of pancreatic body cancer with disappearance of the dilated pancreatic duct on the tail side during preoperative treatment.

This is a case of a 67-year-old woman diagnosed with a 35-mm pancreatic body cancer with a chief complaint of epigastric discomfort. Computed tomography demonstrated invasion of the common hepatic artery, portal vein, and stomach, and chemotherapy was initiated for locally advanced pancreatic cancer. After 9 months of chemotherapy, the tumor remained stable on imaging, and the tumor markers were within the normal range. After additional chemoradiotherapy, the patient underwent a conversion surgery, a pancreaticoduodenectomy. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) at the time of diagnosis demonstrated main pancreatic duct (MPD) dilatation on the tail side of the tumor; however, most of the MPD signal disappeared on MRCP after chemotherapy. Surgical findings failed to identify MPD on the first pancreatic resection plane, and additional resection was conducted; however, no MPD was found. As a pancreatic duct anastomosis was not available, pancreatic reconstruction was selected for pancreaticogastric anastomosis using the invagination method. Pathologically, the pancreatic tissue on the tail side of the tumor was replaced by fibrotic tissue, and MPD could not be identified. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of the disappearance of a dilated pancreatic duct on the tail side accompanied by exocrine tissue loss during preoperative treatment for pancreatic cancer.

Comparison of intra- and inter-reader agreement of abbreviated versus comprehensive MRCP for pancreatic cyst surveillance.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively compare inter- and intra-reader agreement of abbreviated MRCP (aMRCP) with comprehensive MRI (cMRCP) protocol for detection of worrisome features, high-risk stigmata, and concomitant pancreatic cancer in pancreatic cyst surveillance. METHODS: 151 patients (104 women, mean age: 69[10] years) with baseline and follow-up contrast-enhanced MRIs were included. This comprised 138 patients under cyst surveillance with 5-year follow-up showing no pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), 6 with pancreatic cystic lesion-derived malignancy, and 7 with concomitant PDAC. The aMRCP protocol used four sequences (axial and coronal Half-Fourier Single-shot Turbo-spin-Echo, axial T1 fat-saturated pre-contrast, and 3D-MRCP), while cMRCP included all standard sequences, including post-contrast. Three blinded abdominal radiologists assessed baseline cyst characteristics, worrisome features, high-risk stigmata, and PDAC signs using both aMRCP and cMRCP, with a 2-week washout period. Intra- and inter-reader agreement were calculated using Fleiss' multi-rater kappa and Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC). 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: Cyst size, growth, and abrupt main pancreatic duct transition had strong intra- and inter-reader agreement. Intra-reader agreement was ICC = 0.93-0.99 for cyst size, ICC = 0.71-1.00 for cyst growth, and kappa = 0.83-1.00 for abrupt duct transition. Inter-reader agreement for cyst size was ICC = 0.86 (aMRCP) and ICC = 0.83 (cMRCP), and for abrupt duct transition was kappa = 0.84 (aMRCP) and kappa = 0.69 (cMRCP). Thickened cyst wall, mural nodule and cyst-duct communication demonstrated varying intra-reader agreements and poor inter-reader agreements. CONCLUSION: aMRCP showed high intra- and inter-reader agreement for most pancreatic cyst parameters that highly rely on T2-weighted sequences.

Acute necrotising pancreatitis from ascariasis in a gravid patient.

Rarer causes of acute pancreatitis may be considered in certain settings, such as parasitism in endemic regions. This report describes a pregnant female (second trimester) in her 20s who presented with 3-day steady epigastric pain radiating to the back and passage of worm from the mouth. She was diagnosed with mild acute pancreatitis, given a significantly elevated serum lipase and absence of organ failures. Fecalysis showed Ascaris lumbricoides ova; hence, she was treated with mebendazole. Plain MR cholangiopancreatography showed an 842 mL necrotic pancreatic fluid collection and tubular flow void foci within the gallbladder and duodenum consistent with helminthiasis. The patient was managed conservatively in the absence of indications for drainage. The abdominal pain remarkably improved, and she underwent eventual vacuum-assisted delivery to a healthy term baby 4 months after the bout of acute pancreatitis.

Misinterpretation of the severity of bile duct injuries by MRCP.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is widely regarded as the gold standard for assessment of the bile ducts in patients with bile duct injuries (BDIs). This case series aims to highlight the shortcomings of this imaging modality and demonstrate how it may overestimate the injury severity. METHODS: Three patients treated at Groote Schuur Hospital and the University of Cape Town in whom MRI/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) overestimated the severity of BDI were included in the study. Demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, blood results and imaging findings are presented. RESULTS: All patients had an MRI/MRCP done which assessed the BDIs as major complete cut-off of the proximal common hepatic duct with substance loss. Subsequent direct cholangiography showed minor injuries and all three patients were successfully managed with endoscopic stenting. CONCLUSION: Major BDIs are complex, and assessment of severity is intricate and may be overestimated. These patients are best managed in high-volume multidisciplinary team settings.

Aetiological Spectrum of Pancreaticobiliary Diseases in Adult Nigerians on Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography.

BACKGROUND: Imaging is vital for assessing pancreaticobiliary diseases. AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the spectrum and pattern of pancreaticobiliary diseases in adult Nigerians using magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). METHODS: This was a retrospective, descriptive cross-sectional study. The electronic radiological records of 110 adult Nigerians who had undergone MRCP were reviewed. The MRCP images were evaluated for bile duct dilatation, intraluminal filling defects, strictures, calculi, and other abnormalities. RESULTS: There were 45 males (40.9%) and 65 females (59.1%) aged 18-83 years, with a mean age of 51.93 ± 15.22 years. Jaundice (59.1%) and right hypochondrial pain (31.8%) were the most common presenting complaints. Gallstones (32.7%), common bile duct strictures (15.5%), choledocholithiasis (11.8%), pancreatic head carcinoma (10.9%), and gallbladder carcinoma (2.7%) were the most frequent abnormalities. There was biliary obstruction in 56.4% of participants, mostly at the distal and proximal common bile duct. Other findings include hepatomegaly (23.6%), hepatic cysts (6.4%), hepatic steatosis (0.9%), duodenal wall thickening (1.8%), and ascites (5.5%). MRCP was normal in 25 (22.7%) participants. CONCLUSION: Gallstones were the predominant pathology of the various pancreaticobiliary diseases, while Pancreatic head and gallbladder carcinoma were the most common malignant diseases.

Surveillance MRI is associated with improved survival in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

BACKGROUND: The benefits of regular surveillance imaging for cholangiocarcinoma in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are unclear. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the impact of regular magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) on outcomes of patients with PSC in Australia, where the practice of MRCP surveillance is variable. METHODS: The relationship between MRCP surveillance and survival outcomes was assessed in a multicenter, retrospective cohort of patients with PSC from 9 tertiary liver centers in Australia. An inverse probability of treatment weighting approach was used to balance groups across potentially confounding covariates. RESULTS: A total of 298 patients with PSC with 2117 person-years of follow-up were included. Two hundred and twenty patients (73.8%) had undergone MRCP surveillance. Regular surveillance was associated with a 71% reduced risk of death on multivariate weighted Cox analysis (HR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.14-0.59, p < 0.001) and increased likelihood of having earlier endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography from the date of PSC diagnosis in patients with a dominant stricture (p < 0.001). However, survival posthepatobiliary cancer diagnosis was not significantly different between both groups (p = 0.74). Patients who had surveillance of less than 1 scan a year (n = 41) had comparable survival (HR: 0.46, 95% CI 0.16-1.35, p = 0.16) compared to patients who had surveillance at least yearly (n = 172). CONCLUSIONS: In this multicenter cohort study that employed inverse probability of treatment weighting to minimize selection bias, regular MRCP was associated with improved overall survival in patients with PSC; however, there was no difference in survival after hepatobiliary cancer diagnosis. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm the benefits of regular MRCP and optimal imaging interval in patients with PSC.

Case 329.

HISTORY: A 45-year-old female patient who was previously healthy presented after several weeks of fullness in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. The patient did not experience pain, nausea, vomiting, or jaundice, and had no contributory past medical or surgical history, including no history of malignancy. Upon examination, vital signs were within normal limits and the patient was appeared well with soft palpable fullness in the right upper quadrant. The abdomen was nontender and nondistended. Laboratory investigation revealed no abnormalities, with a normal complete blood cell count and normal serum tumor markers that included α-fetoprotein (<2.0 ng/mL; reference, <8.3 ng/mL), cancer antigen 19-9 (21.6 U/mL; reference, <35 U/mL), and carcinoembryonic antigen (1.3 ng/mL; reference, <5 ng/mL). CT of the abdomen and pelvis was performed with intravenous contrast material in the emergency department (Fig 1). Subsequently, combined MRI and MR cholangiopancreatography of the abdomen was performed with and without intravenous contrast material for further evaluation (Fig 2). CT of the chest performed during the same encounter was unremarkable.

Convolutional neural network for identifying common bile duct stones based on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography.

AIMS: To develop an auto-categorization system based on machine learning for three-dimensional magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (3D MRCP) to detect choledocholithiasis from healthy and symptomatic individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 3D MRCP sequences from 254 cases with common bile duct (CBD) stones and 251 cases with normal CBD were enrolled to train the 3D Convolutional Neural Network (3D-CNN) model. Then 184 patients from three different hospitals (91 with positive CBD stone and 93 with normal CBD) were prospectively included to test the performance of 3D-CNN. RESULTS: With a cutoff value of 0.2754, 3D-CNN achieved the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 94.51%, 92.47%, and 93.48%, respectively. In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) for the presence or absence of CBD stones was 0.974 (95% CI, 0.940-0.992). There was no significant difference in sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy between 3D-CNN and radiologists. In addition, the performance of 3D-CNN was also evaluated in the internal test set and the external test set, respectively. The internal test set yielded an accuracy of 94.74% and AUC of 0.974 (95% CI, 0.919-0.996), and the external test set yielded an accuracy of 92.13% and AUC of 0.970 (95% CI, 0.911-0.995). CONCLUSIONS: An artificial intelligence-assisted diagnostic system for CBD stones was constructed using 3D-CNN model for 3D MRCP images. The performance of 3D-CNN model was comparable to that of radiologists in diagnosing CBD stones. 3D-CNN model maintained high performance when applied to data from other hospitals.

The diagnostic value of abbreviated MRI protocol in the surveillance of Branch-Duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm.

PURPOSE: To assess the diagnostic value of abbreviated protocol (AP) MRI to detect the degeneration signs in branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (BD-IPMNs) in patients undergoing a routine MRI follow-up. METHODS: This dual-center retrospective study include patients with BD-IPMN diagnosed on initial comprehensive protocol (CP) MRI who underwent routine MRI follow-up. CP included axial and coronal T2-weighted images (T2WI), axial T1-weighted images (T1WI) before and after contrast administration, 3D MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and diffusion-weighted images (DWI). Two APs, eliminating dynamic sequences ± DWI, were extracted from CP. Two radiologists evaluated the APs separately for IPMN degeneration signs according to Fukuoka criteria and compared the results to the follow-up CP. In patients who underwent EUS, imaging findings were correlated with pathological results. Per-patient and per-lesion sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of APs were calculated. Additionally, the acquisition time for different protocols was calculated. RESULTS: One hundred-fourteen patients (56.1 % women, median age: 71 years) with 256 lesions were included. Degeneration signs were observed in 24.6 % and 12.1 % per-patient and per-lesion, respectively. Regarding APs, the per patient sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy in the detection of the degeneration signs were 100 %, 93.5 %, 83.3 %, 100 %, and 95.1 %, respectively. No additional role for DWI was detected. AP without DWI economized nearly half of CP acquisition time (388 versus 663 s, respectively). CONCLUSION: AP can confidently replace CP for BD-IPMN follow-up with high sensitivity and PPV while offering benefits such as patient comfort, improved MRI accessibility, and reduced dedicated time for image analysis. DWI necessitates special consideration. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Our data suggest that APs safely detect all degeneration signs of IPMN. While there is an overestimation of mural nodules due to the lack of contrast injection, this occurs in a negligible number of patients.

Quantitative MRCP and metrics of bile duct disease over time in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis: A prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Imaging markers of biliary disease in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) have potential for use in clinical and trial disease monitoring. Herein, we evaluate how quantitative magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) metrics change over time, as per the natural history of disease. METHODS: Individuals with PSC were prospectively scanned using non-contrast MRCP. Quantitative metrics were calculated using MRCP+ post-processing software to assess duct diameters and dilated and strictured regions. Additionally, a hepatopancreatobiliary radiologist (blinded to clinical details, biochemistry and quantitative biliary metrics) reported each scan, including ductal disease assessment according to the modified Amsterdam Cholangiographic Score (MAS). RESULTS: At baseline, 14 quantitative MRCP+ metrics were found to be significantly different in patients with PSC (N = 55) compared to those with primary biliary cholangitis (N = 55), autoimmune hepatitis (N = 57) and healthy controls (N = 18). In PSC specifically, baseline metrics quantifying the number of strictures and the number and length of bile ducts correlated with the MAS, transient elastography and serum ALP values (p < 0.01 for all correlations). Over a median 371-day follow-up (range: 364-462), 29 patients with PSC underwent repeat MRCP, of whom 15 exhibited quantitative changes in MRCP+ metrics. Compared to baseline, quantitative MRCP+ identified an increasing number of strictures over time (p < 0.05). Comparatively, no significant differences in biochemistry, elastography or the MAS were observed between timepoints. Quantitative MRCP+ metrics remained stable in non-PSC liver disease. CONCLUSION: Quantitative MRCP+ identifies changes in ductal disease over time in PSC, despite stability in biochemistry, liver stiffness and radiologist-derived cholangiographic assessment (trial registration: ISRCTN39463479).