Objective: To compare the efficacy of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) with endoscopy retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in children for the identification of pancreatic duct variants.
Study design: We identified children with a pancreatic duct variant by ERCP and separately queried our MRCP database for similar variants. Patients with a paired ERCP-MRCP were reviewed. Three radiologists blinded to the ERCP and MRCP findings were asked to independently review the MRCP studies and define the pancreatic duct anatomy. These blinded reviewers also graded the magnetic resonance imaging examination quality.
Results: Seventy-four pairs of ERCP-MRCP examinations were identified. Pancreas divisum was the most frequent ductal variant encountered (73%). There was fair agreement between the radiology reviewers as to the quality of the magnetic resonance imaging studies (Fleiss Kappa agreement). Concordance of the reviewers with that of the ERCP was moderate for the exact diagnosis, moderate for the presence of pancreas divisum, and fair for agreement on the presence of any duct variant. Concordance among reviewers was moderate for the exact diagnosis, moderate for normal vs abnormal, and substantial for the presence of pancreas divisum.
Conclusions: Diagnostic limitations exist when comparing MRCP with the gold reference standard of ERCP, specifically when assessing for pancreatic duct variants in children.
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