Abstract

Background and Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the anatomical variations occurring in the branching patterns of intrahepatic bile ducts(IHDs) and their frequencies in general north Indian population using MR cholangiography.
Methods: The study was conducted on 110 patients undergoing MR cholangiography for different indications. Anatomical variations in IHDs were classified based on the variable insertion of right posterior hepatic bile duct (RPHD) using Huang classification.
Results: Anatomy of the IHD was typical (Huang A1) in 58.2% of cases (n = 64) and atypical in 41.8% (n=46), showing Huang A2, 13.6% (n = 15); Huang A3, 15.4% (n = 17); Huang A4, 9.1% (n = 10); and Huang A5, 3.63% (n = 4).
The Huang A1 cases were then subtyped according to distance (L) between RPHD insertion and the junction of right and left hepatic ducts into S1 subtype (L > 1 cm) and S2 subtype (L ≤ 1 cm). We had 43 subjects with subtype S1 (39.1%) and 21 subjects with subtype S2 (19.1%).
Conclusion: MRC is an important tool for biliary tract mapping and it provides excellent identification of biliary variants which can reduce the incidence of biliary complications in hepatobiliary surgeries.