Preoperative evaluation of gallbladder carcinoma: efficacy of combined use of MR imaging, MR cholangiography, and contrast-enhanced dual-phase three-dimensional MR angiography.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of the combined use of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, MR cholangiography (MRC), and MR angiography (MRA) in the preoperative evaluation of gallbladder carcinoma.


METHODS
During a 20-month period, 41 patients with proven gallbladder carcinomas were referred for MR examination, including MR imaging, MRC, and gadolinium-enhanced dual-phase MRA to determine the operability of their gallbladder carcinoma. Eighteen patients who underwent surgery within six days of the MR examination were included in this study. All MR images were analyzed in order to assess bile duct invasion, vascular invasion, hepatic invasion or metastasis, lymph node metastasis, and invasion into adjacent organs.


RESULTS
Surgical and histopathologic findings revealed hepatic invasion in nine patients, bile duct invasion in nine, vascular invasion in three, and lymph node metastasis in 10. The sensitivity and specificity of MR examination were, respectively, 100% and 89% for bile duct invasion, 100% and 87% for vascular invasion, 67% and 89% for hepatic invasion, and 56% and 89% for lymph node metastasis.


CONCLUSIONS
The "all-in-one" MR protocol, including MR imaging, MRC, and MRA, can be an effective diagnostic method in the preoperative work-up for gallbladder carcinoma.
Kim
Jung Hoon
JH
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Tae Kyoung
TK
Eun
Hyo Won
HW
Kim
Bong Soo
BS
Lee
Moon-Gyu
MG
Kim
Pyo Nyun
PN
Ha
Hyun Kwon
HK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002758:Cholangiography / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003287:Contrast Media