Endoscopic Retrograde Chorangiography (ERC) has been used as a preoperative examination of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Recently, we have introduced Magnetic Resonance Cholangiography (MRC) , and compared both examinations in respect to diagnostic usefulness.
Methods : The objects included 49 cases who underwent ERC and MRC prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We studied the rate of visualization of biliary tracts (intrahepatic duct, extrahepatic duct, cystic duct, gallbladder) and cholelithiasis (gallstone, common bile duct stone) .
Results : (1) MRC was less invasive examination and was useful for screening test. (2) The visualization rate of extrahepatic duct, gallbladderand and gallstone was significantly higher in MRC (p＜0.05) . (3) There was no significant difference in visualization between two examinations. (4) ERC should be withheld until MRC demonstrates positive findings.
