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Abstract While the results of liver transplantation have improved dramatically over the past forty years, the biliary complications after OLT still occur in approximately 10%-25% of cases. Biliary strictures, bile leaks and bile duct stones account for the majority of these complications. The complications are categorized as early complications which include leaks from either the anastomosis or from the T-tube site or late complications that include biliary strictures, choledocholithiasis, mucocele of cystic duct remenant and sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. Imaging plays an important role in detecting postsurgical biliary complications. The diagnostic approach of biliary complications after OLT should begin with a liver US and Doppler examination of the hepatic artery. Also CT scanning can help to detect or confirm these postoperative complications While in cases with a strong clinical and radiological suspicion of biliary pathology, the patient should proceed directly to ERCP. But through advances in technology, MRI is emerging as a promising modality for biliary imaging. By selecting the correct technical factors, radiologic technologists can produce heavily T2-weighted images of the biliary tract. MRCP has advantages over other modalities in that it has multiplanar images obtained parallel to the orientation of the biliary tree, using an MR sequence that is sensitive to static fluid without the need for exogenous contrast agents. Fluid in the ducts appears bright against the darker tissue. Image post-processing (maximal intensity projection) is used to make multi-dimensional images of the entire biliary tree and the pancreatic ducts. Although MRCP images have somewhat lower resolution than ERCP, MRCP shows the ducts in their natural, non-distended state and can easily be combined with MRI of the surrounding viscera. But the technical advances in imaging sequences and coils improve the image quality in MR cholangiography as a noninvasive, accurate alternative to ERCP in the evaluation of diseases of the biliary tract. So diagnostically, MRCP has proven to be an accurate and effective method of visualizing the biliary tract. In conclusion, MR cholangiography could be an important diagnostic tool for the follow up of liver transplantation patients. It offers noninvasive evaluation of the biliary tree, which can distinguish symptoms related to parenchymal abnormalities from symptoms associated with bile duct obstruction. Moreover, when biliary obstruction is detected, MR cholangiography provides important information for planning percutaneous or endoscopic therapeutic procedures. |