MR cholangiopancreatography findings of biliary tract complications after liver transplantation

Abstract

Background/aim: We aimed to present the magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) findings of biliary tractcomplications after liver transplantation.Materials and methods: Seventy-five patients who underwent MRCP in our department between July 2011 and July 2015 after livertransplantation were retrospectively evaluated. The MRCP images were reevaluated by three radiologists in consensus. Diagnosticconfirmation of MRCP findings was obtained with direct cholangiographic examinations or with clinical, radiological, and laboratoryfindings and concordance between MRCP findings and the final diagnosis was investigated.Results: Twenty-seven of the 75 patients had normal MRCP findings and at least one type of biliary tract complication was detected on theMR images of 48 patients. These complications included anastomotic stricture, dilatation of the biliary tract, nonanastomotic stricture,biliary leakage, cholangitis, biloma, abscess due to cholangitis, biliary stone-sludge, and donor-to-recipient bile duct disproportion.Thirty of the 75 patients were followed only by clinical and laboratory findings without further imaging. Forty-five patients underwentdirect cholangiographic examinations. At the end of the follow-up period, 28 of the 75 patients were considered free of biliary tractcomplications, and at least one bile duct complication was diagnosed in 47 patients.Conclusion: With its high sensitivity and specificity, MRCP should be the first choice of method in the diagnosis and follow-up ofbiliary complications after liver transplantation.