Diagnosis of Caroli Disease by CT and MRI / 中国医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the value of CT and MRI in diagnosis of Caroli disease. Methods CT and MR findings in 10 patients with histologically proved Caroli disease were retrospectively reviewed. All the patients underwent both liver plane CT and contrast-enhanced CT. Five of 10 patients underwent MR imaging with Flash 2D T_1WI(TR/TE 148/4ms), True Fisp T_2WI(TR/TE 5.8/2.9ms) and MRCP(TR/TE 1120/86ms) sequences. Results The imaging paremeters of Caroli disease were multiple saccular/columnar dilatation of intrahepatic biliary ducts and communication with each other, which only partly were depicted at CT, however, all imaging findings were depicted at MRI True Fisp and MRCP without contrast-enhanced scanning. Of 10 patients, 4 cases were type Ⅰ of Caroli disease with hepatolith, but without hepatic cirrhosis and portal hypertention; 6 cases type Ⅱ,all complicated with hepatic cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Of 6 patients with type Ⅱ Caroli disease, 4 cases had not hepatolith, and 2 cases had hepatolith. Of 10 patients, 3 cases had bilateral sponge kidney. Conclusion Caroli disease could be identified by CT or MRI, but MRI was superior to CT in depicting Caroli disease.