title: Role of magnetic resonance cholangiography in assessing biliary anatomy in right lobe living donors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The value of magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) in assessing potential adult-to-adult living liver transplant (ALDLT) donors remains poorly defined. The purpose of this study is to determine the accuracy of MRC in assessing biliary anatomy with intraoperative confirmation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort of 30 ALDLT donors who underwent right hepatectomy from October 2000 to July 2003 was evaluated. MRC was performed using a heavily T2 weighted radial slab technique. MRC was interpreted preoperatively by a radiologist and a surgeon and compared with the intraoperative biliary findings in all patients derived from cholangiography (IOC) and bile duct exploration. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of MRC for aberrant biliary anatomy were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MRC suggested normal, aberrant, and indeterminate biliary anatomy in 16, 12, and 2 donors, respectively. IOC revealed normal and aberrant biliary anatomy in 17 and 13 patients, respectively. MRC demonstrated biliary anatomy accurately in 27 of 30 patients. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, and negative predictive values of MRC in detecting aberrant biliary anatomy were 92%, 100%, 100%, and 94%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative MRC accurately depicts biliary anatomy in potential ALDLT donors and may guide the intraoperative management of the biliary tract.
authors.affiliation: MultiOrgan Transplantation Unit, Department of Surgery, University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Robin D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seisuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Masoom A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Haider
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molinari
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gallinger
authors.forename: Ian D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: McGilvray
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Greig
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cattral
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D049448:Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity