Coronal 2D MR cholangiography overestimates the length of the right hepatic duct in liver transplantation donors.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the length of the right hepatic duct (RHD) measured on rotatory coronal 2D MR cholangiography (MRC), rotatory axial 2D MRC, and reconstructed 3D MRC.


METHODS
Sixty-seven donors underwent coronal and axial 2D projection MRC and 3D MRC. RHD length was measured and categorized as ultrashort (≤1 mm), short (>1-14 mm), and long (>14 mm). The measured length, frequency of overestimation, and the degree of underestimation between two 2D MRC sets were compared to 3D MRC.


RESULTS
The length of the RHD from 3D MRC, coronal 2D MRC, and axial 2D MRC showed significant difference (p < 0.05). RHD was frequently overestimated on the coronal than on axial 2D MRC (61.2 % vs. 9 %; p < .0001). On coronal 2D MRC, four (6 %) with short RHD and one (1.5 %) with ultrashort RHD were over-categorized as long RHD. On axial 2D MRC, overestimation was mostly <1 mm (83.3 %), none exceeding 3 mm or over-categorized. The degree of underestimation between the two projection planes was comparable.


CONCLUSIONS
Coronal 2D MRC overestimates the RHD in liver donors. We suggest adding axial 2D MRC to conventional coronal 2D MRC in the preoperative workup protocol for living liver donors to avoid unexpected confrontation with multiple ductal openings when harvesting the graft.


CONCLUSIONS
• In living liver donors, RHD length influences the number of ductal openings. • Coronal 2D MRC overestimates the RHD length than does axial 2D MRC. • Adding axial 2D MRC to coronal 2D MRC may prevent overestimating RHD length.
Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 138-736, South Korea.|Department of Radiology, Ajou University Medical Center, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
Bohyun
B
Kim
Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 138-736, South Korea. kimkw@amc.seoul.kr.
Kyoung Won
KW
Kim
Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 138-736, South Korea.
So Yeon
SY
Kim
Department of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 138-736, South Korea.
So Hyun
SH
Park
School of Computer Science & Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul, South Korea.
Jeongjin
J
Lee
Department of Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary and Liver Transplantation Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Gi Won
GW
Song
Department of Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary and Liver Transplantation Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Dong-Hwan
DH
Jung
Department of Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary and Liver Transplantation Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Tae-Yong
TY
Ha
Department of Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary and Liver Transplantation Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Sung Gyu
SG
Lee
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002758:Cholangiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006500:Hepatic Duct, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D019520:Living Donors; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D055815:Young Adult
Bile ducts, Intrahepatic; Cholangiopancreatography; Liver transplantation; Living donors; Magnetic resonance