MR cholangiography in potential liver donors: quantitative and qualitative improvement with administration of an oral effervescent agent.
To determine whether an oral effervescent agent improves magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) images, both qualitatively and quantitatively, in potential live liver donors.



This retrospective study was approved by the Institutional Review Board, and informed consent was waived. Seventy potential liver donors underwent 2D MRC before and after administration of an oral effervescent agent. One radiologist measured relative contrast ratio (rC) and relative signal intensity (rS) for right and left intrahepatic ducts (RHD and LHD), and common hepatic duct (CHD). After assessment of overall image quality, two other radiologists independently scored visualization of five ductal segments (RHD, LHD, CHD, cystic, and common bile duct) and assessed the preferred image set. In consensus, they assessed the biliary anatomy. The data were analyzed using a paired t-test, Wilcoxon's signed-rank test, and chi-square test.



Both rC and rS of RHD and CHD were significantly higher on MRC images after administration of an oral effervescent agent than before (P < 0.03). The overall image quality grades and biliary visualization scores for all five duct segments were significantly higher on MRC images after administration of an oral effervescent agent than before (P < 0.0001). Between these images, both readers more often preferred MRC images with an effervescent agent rather than those without this agent (reader 1: 56/70, 80.0%; reader 2: 55/70, 78.6%; P = 0.0003). The readers correctly assessed second-order biliary tract anatomy in two more subjects on MRC after administration of an effervescent agent than before.



Oral administration of an effervescent agent improves MRC images, both qualitatively and quantitatively, in live liver donors.



3 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;46:1656-1663.
Department of Radiology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Heon-Ju
HJ
Kwon
Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Kyoung Won
KW
Kim
Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Sang Hyun
SH
Choi
Department of Radiology, Dongguk University Ilsan Medical Center, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
Jin-Hee
JH
Jung
Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
So Yeon
SY
Kim
Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Se-Young
SY
Kim
School of Computer Science and Engineering, Soongsil University, Seoul, Korea.
Jeongjin
J
Lee
Division of Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery, and Departments of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Dong-Hwan
DH
Jung
Division of Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery, and Departments of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Tae-Yong
TY
Ha
Division of Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery, and Departments of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Gi-Won
GW
Song
Division of Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery, and Departments of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Sung-Gyu
SG
Lee
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002758:Cholangiography / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D019520:Living Donors; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D003287:Contrast Media
bile duct; liver transplantation; magnetic resonance cholangiography; oral effervescent agent