Comparative Evaluation of Abdominal Ultrasound and MRI in the Diagnosis of Congenital Choledochal Cysts in Children.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of abdominal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing congenital choledochal cysts (CCC) in children.

Methods: This retrospective analysis included 186 pediatric cases diagnosed with CCC through abdominal ultrasound and MRI examinations at our hospital between July 15, 2015, and November 29, 2023. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to ensure the study's objectivity. Chi-square and t-tests were used to compare the diagnostic performance of ultrasound and MRI.

Results: MRI demonstrated a superior detection rate of bile duct dilation compared to ultrasound (P < .001). Compared to ultrasound, a lesser number of nonspecific cysts was reported by MRI, indicating its higher specificity (P = .008). Although the rate of misdiagnosis was slightly higher in ultrasound, the difference was not statistically significant (P = .123). Regarding consistency with postoperative pathological diagnosis results, MRI exhibited higher accuracy, with sensitivity and specificity both exceeding 75%.

Conclusion: MRI exhibits higher sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in diagnosing pediatric CCC. Despite the strong correlation in diagnostic consistency between MRI and ultrasound, MRI remains the superior diagnostic tool and should be prioritized for diagnosis and preoperative planning.