title: Combination of increased flip angle, radial k-space trajectory, and free breathing acquisition for improved detection of a biliary variant at living donor liver transplant evaluation using gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRCP.
abstract: Gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) was performed for evaluation of living donor liver transplantation. T2-weighted MRCP and hepatobiliary-phase postcontrast MRCP showed an aberrant right posterior bile duct, although the precise variant was uncertain. Optimized hepatobiliary-phase MRCP was obtained using 3 sequence modifications: increased flip angle to improve contrast between the biliary tree and surrounding tissues; radial k-space sampling to minimize motion artifact; and free-breathing acquisition to improve signal-to-noise ratio and, in turn, spatial resolution (resolution of 1.28 × 1.28 × 1.5 mm). The optimized sequence demonstrated that the right posterior bile duct drained into the cystic duct, consistent with type 3C biliary variant, thus modifying surgical planning.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Andrew B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Rosenkrantz
authors.forename: Tobias K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Block
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hindman
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.forename: Hersh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chandarana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D049448:Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance; D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000002:abnormalities*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; C073590:gadolinium ethoxybenzyl DTPA; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA