Measurement of Biliary confluence angle in obstructive Jaundice using Magnetic resonance Imaging

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the mean biliary confluence angle on MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) images in obstructive jaundice caused by stones, and investigated the variability of the angle by age. The study population was drawn from the patients referred to MRCP between January 2011 and June2011 for various symptoms (epigastic pain, RT hypoconderia pain. A total of 89 patients (56 women and 33men, average age 42.33 16.7) who were diagnosed as obstructive jaundice caused by stones were included and in whom MRCP shows biliary diseases or chronic parenchyma liver disease were excluded .The confluence angle was measured independently by 2 observers on coronal oblique thick-collimation images where the angle is optimum and the mean values were noted. The mean value was found to be 90.39 20.3. No statistically significant correlation was found between biliary confluence angle and age.