title: Efficacy of gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance cholangiography compared with T2-weighted magnetic resonance cholangiography in patients with liver cirrhosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gadoxetic acid is one of the hepatobiliary-specific agents and so can be used for contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance cholangiography (CE-MRC). The aim of our study was to compare the performance of CE-MRC with that of T2-weighted magnetic resonance cholangiography (T2W-MRC), and also to ascertain the effectiveness of both modalities combined for visualizing anatomic structures of the biliary tree in patients with liver cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six patients underwent CE-MRC and T2W-MRC imaging. In the CE-MRC studies, hepatobiliary phase images were acquired 20 minutes after contrast injection. Two radiologists first evaluated the T2W-MRC and CE-MRC images separately in random order, and then they reviewed both images together 8 weeks later. The readers graded the quality of visualization of each biliary duct and the entire biliary tree (overall rating) using a five-point scale. Images with a grade of 3 or 4 were considered to provide sufficient visualization for clinical application, and those with a grade of 2 or less were considered to provide insufficient visualization. Laboratory data, Child-Pugh classification, and model for end-stage liver disease score were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall rating of T2W-MRC was significantly higher than that of CE-MRC (p < 0.001), although combined T2W/CE-MRC provided better visualization of biliary segments than T2W-MRC alone (p = 0.025). There were no significant differences between liver function and the overall rating of CE-MRC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CE-MRC is not superior to conventional T2W-MRC with respect to biliary visualization in patients with liver cirrhosis. However, a combination of T2W-MRC and CE-MRC provides significantly better visualization of biliary structures than T2W-MRC alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Lukang Christian Hospital, Chang-Hua, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Wen-Pei
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Radiology, Heping Fuyou Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Ran-Chou
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Chang-Hua Christian Hospital, Chang-Hua, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chih-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Transplant Center, Chang-Hua Christian Hospital, Chang-Hua, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yao-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Chang-Hua Christian Hospital, Chang-Hua, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Kwo-Whei
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Chang-Hua Christian Hospital, Chang-Hua, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Hwa-Koon
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Radiology, Chang-Hua Christian Hospital, Chang-Hua, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: chouchente@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Chen-Te
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002758:Cholangiography / Q000379:methods*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: C073590:gadolinium ethoxybenzyl DTPA; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA
keywords: gadoxetic acid; liver cirrhosis; magnetic resonance cholangiography