title: Magnetic resonance imaging including magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography for tumor localization and therapy planning in malignant hilar obstructions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess image quality and overall accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including two magnetic cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) techniques, for the diagnostics and preoperative work-up of malignant hilar obstructions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one patients with malignant hilar obstructions (hilar cholangiocarcinoma, n=30; hepatocellular carcinoma, n=1) received MRCP by two techniques (single-shot thick-slab and multisection thin-slice MRCP) and unenhanced and contrast material-enhanced MRI. MR assessment included the evaluation of image quality and visualization of bile ducts (5-point scale), and the classification of tumor status. MR results were subsequently correlated with the results from surgery and pathology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The maximum intensity projections of multisection thin-slice MRCP had significantly more artifacts compared to MRCP in the single-shot thick-slab technique, and overall image quality of single-shot thick-slab MRCP was rated significantly superior compared to multisection thin-slice MRCP (4.4 +/- 0.7 and 4.1 +/- 0.9, respectively). Moreover, ductal visualization of different parts of the biliary system was rated superior with single-shot thick-slab MRCP. In contrast, the original data from multisection thin slice MRCP facilitated visualization of periductal lesions and adjacent structures. Overall MR accuracy for the assessment of tumor status, periductal infiltration, and lymph node metastases was 90%, 87%, and 66%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For evaluation of malignant hilar obstructions, MRCP by the single-shot thick-slab technique had superior image quality and fewer artifacts; in contrast, besides sole biliary visualization, multisection MRCP depicted complementary adjacent parenchymal and periductal structures. We therefore recommend MRI, with a combination of both MRCP techniques, for the diagnostic work-up and therapy planning of malignant hilar obstructions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Charité Medical University Center, Campus Virchow Clinic, Berlin, Germany. elh@charite.de
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Hänninen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pech
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jonas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ricke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thelen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Langrehr
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hintze
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Röttgen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Denecke
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neuhaus
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Felix
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016477:Artifacts; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D049448:Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results