title: Segmental high intensity on T1-weighted hepatic MR images.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated the diagnostic importance of segmental high-intensity (SHI) areas not corresponding to mass lesions on T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective investigation of hepatic MR images obtained from 634 patients during a 4-year period at our institution. Images were compared with findings reported in the patients' medical records. There were 16 patients (2.5%) with SHI areas not corresponding to a mass lesion. We compared MR images with plain computed tomographic (CT) scans (n = 16), angiograms (n = 12), and histologic findings (n = 10).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The segments with intrahepatic bile duct dilatation showed hyperintensity on T1-weighted images. In six of 16 patients, the biliary duct was more dilated in the area of hyperintensity than in areas without hyperintensity. The SHI areas appeared as areas of low attenuation (n = 13), high attenuation (n = 1), or isoattenuation (n = 2) on plain CT scans. Histologically, these areas showed ductular proliferation and deposition of bile pigment within the hepatocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Segmental areas of increased signal intensity on T1-weighted images were probably due to intrahepatic cholestasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo, Akita City, Akita 010-0041, Japan. hashi@med.akita-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Akabane
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heianna
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwama
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tate
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishii
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Watarai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000473:pathology; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies