title: Characterization of the biliary tract by virtual ultrasonography constructed by gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at prospectively evaluating bile duct anatomy on ultrasonography and evaluating the safety and utility of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) assisted by virtual ultrasonography from gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  The institutional review board approved this study, and patients provided written informed consent prior to entry into the study. Bile duct anatomy was assessed in 201 patients who underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI for the evaluation of hepatic tumor. Eighty-one of these patients subsequently underwent RFA assisted by ultrasound imaging. In 23 patients, the tumor was located within 5 mm of the central bile duct, as demonstrated by MRI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Virtual ultrasonography constructed by Gd-EOB-enhanced MRI was able to visualize the common bile duct, left hepatic duct, and right hepatic duct in 96.5, 94.0, and 89.6 % of cases, respectively. The target hepatic tumor nodule and biliary duct could be detected with virtual ultrasonography in all patients, and no severe complications occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The running pattern of the bile ducts could be recognized on conventional ultrasound by referencing virtual ultrasonography constructed by Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI. RFA assisted by this imaging strategy did not result in bile duct injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, 791-0295, Japan.
authors.forename: Yohei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koizumi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, 791-0295, Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirooka
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, 791-0295, Japan.
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ochi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, 791-0295, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tokumoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, 791-0295, Japan.
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takechi
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Center, Ehime Prefectural Central Hospital, Ehime, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hiraoka
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, 791-0295, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, 791-0295, Japan.
authors.forename: Teru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kumagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, 791-0295, Japan.
authors.forename: Bunzo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, 791-0295, Japan.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Toon, Ehime, 791-0295, Japan. hiasa@m.ehime-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hiasa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; C073590:gadolinium ethoxybenzyl DTPA; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA
keywords: Bile duct; Gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Radiofrequency ablation; Virtual ultrasonography