A new approach for diagnosis of hepatolithiasis: magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography: potential usefulness of dehydrocholic acid (DHCA) administration in the evaluation of hepatolithiasis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate whether exogenous dehydrocholic acid (DHCA) was useful to enhance the delineation of hepatolithiasis.


METHODS
Our study population comprised 9 patients. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) was acquired before and after the administration of DHCA. Two different MRCP snap-shot techniques were applied: thick-slab two-dimensional (2D) (coronal) single shot turbo spin echo T2-weighted sequences and multisection thin-slab, 2D (coronal) single shot turbo spin echo T2-weighted sequences with three-dimensional (3D) maximum intensity projection (MIP) post processing.


RESULTS
DHCA provided a better visualization of hepatolithiasis in 8 of 9 cases (88.9%).


CONCLUSIONS
It was suggested that administration of DHCA could enhance the delineation of the hepatolithiasis on MRCP images.
Sakai
Yuji
Y
Department of Medicine and Clinical Oncology (K1), Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Inohana 1-8-1, Chuou-ku, Chiba City, 260-8670, Japan. sakai4754@yahoo.co.jp
Tsuyuguchi
Toshio
T
Yukisawa
Seigo
S
Tsuchiya
Shin
S
Sugiyama
Harutoshi
H
Miyakawa
Kaoru
K
Fukuda
Yoshihiro
Y
Ebara
Masaaki
M
Nonaka
Hiroi
H
Ikehira
Hiroo
H
Obata
Takayuki
T
Miyazaki
Masaru
M
Yokosuka
Osamu
O
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D049448:Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance / Q000379:methods*; D003685:Dehydrocholic Acid; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020347:Lithiasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D003685:Dehydrocholic Acid