Biliary motor function in gallstone patients evaluated by fatty-meal MR cholangiography.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the possibility of evaluating biliary motor function with magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC).


METHODS
Twenty patients with gallstones and 30 control subjects were studied using fatty-meal MRC. After baseline MRC, they were encouraged to drink 250 mL of milk and underwent postprandial MRC every 10 minutes for 60 minutes. Postprandial changes in gallbladder volume and the diameter of the common duct were assessed as indicators of gallbladder contractility and biliary obstruction, respectively. Postprandial dilatation at 60 minutes was considered indicative of persistent biliary obstruction.


RESULTS
Gallbladder ejection fraction was calculated at 66.0% +/- 12.2% (range, 40.3%-88.6%) in the controls. Gallbladder volume expressed as a percentage of the baseline value was significantly larger at 20-60 minutes in the gallstone patients than in the controls. Gallbladder ejection fraction varied widely (mean, 46.4% +/- 24.4%; range, 2.8%-81.5%) and was significantly reduced in comparison with that of the controls (P < 0.01). In two gallstone patients with co-existing ductal stones, transient postprandial dilatation associated with ampullary impaction was observed. Persistent biliary obstruction was not indicated in any subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest the feasibility of fatty-meal MRC, as well as its potential for evaluating biliary motor function.
Inoue
Yusuke
Y
Department of Radiology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Komatsu
Yutaka
Y
Yoshikawa
Kohki
K
Akahane
Masaaki
M
Isayama
Hiroyuki
H
Ohtomo
Kuni
K
Omata
Masao
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002758:Cholangiography / Q000379:methods*; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D016473:Gallbladder Emptying / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors
D004041:Dietary Fats