Published online Feb 14, 2019. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i6.644
Peer-review started: November 28, 2018
First decision: January 18, 2019
Revised: January 25, 2019
Accepted: January 28, 2019
Article in press: January 28, 2019
Published online: February 14, 2019
Development of non-invasive methods to risk-stratify patients and predict clinical endpoints have been identified as one of the key research priorities in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). In addition to serum and histological biomarkers, there has been much recent interest in developing imaging biomarkers that can predict disease course and clinical outcomes in PSC. Magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRI/MRCP) continue to play a central role in the diagnosis and follow-up of PSC patients. Magnetic resonance (MR) techniques have undergone significant advancement over the last three decades both in MR data acquisition and interpretation. The progression from a qualitative to quantitative approach in MR acquisition techniques and data interpretation, offers the opportunity for the development of objective and reproducible imaging biomarkers that can potentially be incorporated as an additional endpoint in clinical trials. This review article will discuss how the role of MR techniques have evolved over the last three decades from emerging as an alternative diagnostic tool to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, to being instrumental in the ongoing search for imaging biomarker of disease stage, progression and prognosis in PSC.
Core tip: Magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRI/MRCP) remains the cornerstone in the diagnosis and follow-up of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) patients. However, heterogeneity in acquisition, image processing and interpretation varies significantly. There is ongoing interest in establishing non-invasive methods to predict clinical endpoints in PSC. A number of recent publications have focused on objectively quantifying output from various magnetic resonance (MR) techniques and have suggested MR parameters as potential prognostic risk-stratification tool in PSC. Our aim is to revisit the historical use of imaging in PSC and consolidate the evolving role of the different MR techniques to date in the quest for establishing a validated imaging biomarker for PSC.