Segmental high intensity on T1-weighted hepatic MR images.
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.
Hashimoto
M
M
Department of Radiology, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo, Akita City, Akita 010-0041, Japan. hashi@med.akita-u.ac.jp
Akabane
Y
Y
Heianna
J
J
Iwama
T
T
Tate
E
E
Nishii
T
T
Watarai
J
J
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