To explore the diagnostic value of conventional MRI combined with three-dimensional magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (3D-MRCP) for biliary atresia (BA) in children.

MRI and 3D-MRCP data of 39 children with clinically suspected BA in our hospital from January 2016 to April 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, and the images were compared with the surgical results.

30 cases of BA were confirmed by intraoperative angiography and surgery, 32 cases were diagnosed by preoperative MRI and 3D-MRCP, the sensitivity of MRI combined with 3D-MRCP in the diagnosis of BA was 96.7% (29/30), and the specificity was 66.7% (6/9). Twenty-nine patients diagnosed correctly by MRI combined with 3D-MRCP showed no development of common bile duct, local or no development of hepatic duct or left and right hepatic duct, and 18 patients showed increased liver volume to different degrees. There were 24 cases with abnormal gallbladder morphology, 3 cases with normal gallbladder morphology, and 2 cases without gallbladder development. Among them, 17 cases had visible strip low T₁WI and high T₂WI signals around portal vein in the portal area, and 12 cases had triangular T₂WI high-signal fiber plates in hepatic portal area.

The possibility of BA should be highly suspected when conventional MRI shows increased liver volume, abnormal signals in the portal or manifold area, but 3D-MRCP shows poor intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts and abnormal gallbladder morphology. MRI combined with 3D-MRCP has high sensitivity in the diagnosis of BA, which can be used as an effective supplement for ultrasound examination and is of great significance for the clinical diagnosis of BA.

Magnetic resonance imaging; Three-dimensional magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography; Biliary atresia; Diagnostic value