Repeatability and Reproducibility of Quantitative MRCP

This study aims to determine the repeatability and reproducibility of Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). Imaging scientists at Perspectum Diagnostics have developed a hessian-based mathematical model to enhance conventional MRCP to a 3D geometric model of the biliary tree, 'Quantitative MRCP'. This enables advanced quantitative measurement of bile duct width, orientation, branching point and curvative metrics. The technology has been validated against 3D printed phantoms for accuracy, and early clinical research has demonstrated the technology has potential for clinical impact, with improvement in radiologist performance versus conventional non-enhanced MRCP imaging (Vikal et al 2017). Quantitative MRCP aims to act as a tool to not only improve assessment of the current status of the biliary tree, but also act as a mechanism to track change within the ducts. Thus, it must be established that any change between scans is due to change in the physiology of the individual and not due to a quirk or fault of the technology. In order to achieve this a series of scans will be performed on an individual over a short period of time, for which the condition of the biliary tree within that individual can be assumed to be constant. Between each scan, subject and coil repositioning will occur. The study will recruit a group of adult volunteers, from both diseased groups and healthy groups in order to achieve a range of physiological biliary metrics.