Brief Article
Copyright ©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Radiol. Aug 28, 2013; 5(8): 304-312
Published online Aug 28, 2013. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v5.i8.304
Role of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in diagnosing choledochal cysts: Case series and review
Vikas Y Sacher, James S Davis, Danny Sleeman, Javier Casillas
Vikas Y Sacher, James S Davis, Danny Sleeman, Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, United States
Javier Casillas, Department of Radiology, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33101, United States
Author contributions: Sacher VY designed the study, collected and analyzed data and wrote the manuscript; Davis JS analyzed data and revised manuscript; Sleeman D designed study and revised manuscript; Casillas J designed study and revised manuscript; all authors approved the final version of the manuscript to be published.
Correspondence to: Javier Casillas, MD, Professor of Clinical Radiology, Chief of Abdominal Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Miami, PO Box 016960 (R-109), Miami, FL 33101, United States. jcasilla@med.miami.edu
Telephone: +1-305-5857500 Fax: +1-305-5855743
Received: January 23, 2013
Revised: June 24, 2013
Accepted: August 4, 2013
Published online: August 28, 2013
Processing time: 216 Days and 23.6 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is used as primary diagnostic approach in various biliary pathologies. This is the first literature review of published studies discussing MRCP as a diagnostic modality for choledochal cysts. This review further outlines how recent imaging techniques have improved diagnostic accuracy of MRCP in diagnosing choledochal cysts and their associated anatomic variants. Advantages, disadvantages and contraindication for MRCP with respect to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography are also discussed.