Brief Articles
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World J Gastroenterol. May 28, 2009; 15(20): 2543-2546
Published online May 28, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.2543
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography for the detection of pancreatic duct stones in patients with chronic pancreatitis
Zhen-Hua Ma, Qing-Yong Ma, Huan-Chen Sha, Sheng-Li Wu, Jun Wen
Zhen-Hua Ma, Qing-Yong Ma, Huan-Chen Sha, Sheng-Li Wu, Jun Wen, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
Author contributions: Ma ZH and Ma QY contributed equally to this work; Ma ZH, Ma QY and Wen J designed the research; Ma ZH and Wen J performed the research; Wen J and Sha HC analyzed the data; Ma ZH, Wu SL and Wen J wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Zhen-Hua Ma, PhD, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China. mzh@mail.xjtu.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-29-85323895  
Fax: +86-29-85323899
Received: December 26, 2008
Revised: March 5, 2009
Accepted: March 12, 2009
Published online: May 28, 2009
Abstract

AIM: To assess the role of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) in detection of pancreatic duct stones (PDS) in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP).

METHODS: Clinical data of 78 CP patients who were treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University (China) between January 2004 and July 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. A predictive model of pancreatic duct stones was established through logistic regression and its effectiveness was verified. Among these patients, MRCP was performed in 60 patients who served as a control group, while 44 patients with a higher predictive value than the entry threshold of the predictive model served as an experimental group.

RESULTS: The positive rate of PDS in the 78 patients with CP was 19.2% (15/78). The predictive entry threshold of the predictive model was 5% (P < 0.05). The possibility of existence of PDS could be predicted according to the following 4 indexes: gastrointestinal symptoms, intermittent abdominal pain, diabetes mellitus (DM)/impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and positive B-mode ultrasound results. The incidence of PDS in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: MRCP is strongly suggested for the detection of PDS in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms, intermittent abdominal pain, DM/IGT and positive B-mode ultrasound results.

Keywords: Chronic pancreatitis; Pancreatic duct stone; Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography; B-mode ultrasound; Logistic regression