OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the effects of i.v. administration of gadolinium chelate on thick-section MR cholangiopancreatography performed with half-Fourier rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement sequence. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Unenhanced and enhanced MR cholangiopancreatograms obtained in 50 consecutive patients were quantitatively analyzed with region-of-interest measurements and were qualitatively evaluated by three independent radiologists unaware the patient information. A phantom study was performed to verify the effects. RESULTS: The mean contrast-to-noise ratios of the gallbladder, common bile duct, and main pancreatic duct significantly increased after gadolinium chelate administration (p < 0.005). The mean depiction score of the main pancreatic duct increased significantly with one radiologist (p < 0.05) and marginally with another (p < 0.06), and the mean depiction scores of the background structures and renal pelvis significantly decreased with all three radiologists (p < 0.001). The phantom study showed the results, indicating that T2- and T2(*)-shortening effects of gadolinium chelate caused the effects in vivo. CONCLUSION: i.v. administration of gadolinium chelate improves the depiction of pancreaticobiliary ducts in some selected patients, while decreasing the depiction in others with less frequency. There may be a value of enhanced MR cholangiopancreatography when unenhanced MR cholangiopancreatography is not sufficient.
OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to investigate the effects of i.v. administration of gadolinium chelate on thick-section MR cholangiopancreatography performed with half-Fourier rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement sequence. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Unenhanced and enhanced MR cholangiopancreatograms obtained in 50 consecutive patients were quantitatively analyzed with region-of-interest measurements and were qualitatively evaluated by three independent radiologists unaware the patient information. A phantom study was performed to verify the effects. RESULTS: The mean contrast-to-noise ratios of the gallbladder, common bile duct, and main pancreatic duct significantly increased after gadolinium chelate administration (p < 0.005). The mean depiction score of the main pancreatic duct increased significantly with one radiologist (p < 0.05) and marginally with another (p < 0.06), and the mean depiction scores of the background structures and renal pelvis significantly decreased with all three radiologists (p < 0.001). The phantom study showed the results, indicating that T2- and T2(*)-shortening effects of gadolinium chelate caused the effects in vivo. CONCLUSION: i.v. administration of gadolinium chelate improves the depiction of pancreaticobiliary ducts in some selected patients, while decreasing the depiction in others with less frequency. There may be a value of enhanced MR cholangiopancreatography when unenhanced MR cholangiopancreatography is not sufficient.
Authors: Mi-Jung Lee; Myung-Joon Kim; Choon-Sik Yoon; Si Young Song; Kyungsoo Park; Woo Sun Kim Journal: Korean J Radiol Date: 2011-04-26 Impact factor: 3.500