Background:
MRCP is the method of choice in diagnosing pathologies of the biliary system. One of them is bile fistulae. They are uncommon but tend to cause many diagnostic problems. The possible way to improve MRCP is using it with intravenous injection of hepatobiliary-specific contrast agents. As it is eliminated via the hepatobiliary system, it can be visualized in the bile ducts and may help to reveal disorders undetected by a standard MRCP.
Case report:
We report a case of a 36-year-old woman with leakage in the biliary system which led to creation of a subcutaneous bile reservoir. By means of a regular MRCP protocol it was impossible to reveal any disorders of the biliary system and thus a decision to inject Gd-EOB-DTPA was taken. As a result, a fistula with its opening in the fundus of the gall bladder was revealed. Patient was qualified for treatment with somatostatin analogues in order to stop bile secretion.
Conclusions:
The Gd-EOB-DTPA in combination with regular T2-weighted MRCP may be helpful in detecting anomalies of the biliary system. Although a high price of the procedure restricts its accessibility, such advantages as lower risk of complications, lower costs of hospitalization, and less traumatic nature make it a technique that may take precedence over ERCP in ambiguous cases.