Vascular and extravascular complications of liver transplantation: Comprehensive evaluation with three-dimensional contrast-enhanced volumetric MR imaging and MR cholangiopancreatography

P. V. Pandharipande, V. S. Lee, G. R. Morgan, L. W. Teperman, G. A. Krinsky, N. M. Rofsky, M. C. Roy, J. C. Weinreb

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE. Our purpose was to evaluate a comprehensive MR imaging strategy for recipients of liver transplants that relies on dynamic interpolated three-dimensional (3D) MR imaging for simultaneous vascular, parenchymal, and extrahepatic imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Twenty-three consecutive adult patients underwent 30 MR imaging examinations between 2 days and 99 months (mean, 15 months) after transplantation using a breath-hold 3D gradient-echo sequence (TR range/TE range, 3.7-4.7/1.8-1.9; flip angle, 12-30°) with an intermittent fat-saturation pulse and interpolation in the section-select direction to enable pixel size 3 mm or less in all dimensions. Unenhanced and triphasic contrast-enhanced 3D imaging (average dose, 0.13 mmol/kg of gadopentetate dimeglumine) was performed. A subset of patients (n = 13) also underwent MR cholangiopancreatography using half-Fourier single-shot turbo spin-echo imaging. MR imaging examinations were correlated with digital subtraction angiography (n = 8), contrast-enhanced cholangiography (n = 9), sonography (n = 13), and histopathology (n = 14). RESULTS. MR imaging revealed abnormal findings in 27 (90%) of 30 examinations, including vascular disease in nine, biliary complications in four, and evidence of intra- or extrahepatic hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence in six. Digital subtraction angiography confirmed seven MR angiography examinations but suggested disease overestimation in one. Contrast-enhanced cholangiography confirmed findings of MR cholangiopancreatography in seven cases but suggested disease underestimation in two. CONCLUSION. Dynamic interpolated 3D MR imaging combined with dedicated MR cholangiopancreatography can provide a comprehensive assessment of vascular, biliary, parenchymal, and extrahepatic complications in most recipients of liver transplants.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1101-1107
Number of pages7
JournalAmerican Journal of Roentgenology
Volume177
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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