Contrast enhanced magnetic resonance cholangiography (CE-MRC).

Abstract

Hepatocyte specific contrast agent has been developed to detect and characterize liver lesions by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). As this contrast agent is taken up into the functional hepatocyte and is excreted via the biliary system, it has potential to be an intrabiliary contrast agent. There has been increased diagnostic confidence when it is used in combination with conventional T2 magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) by giving both morphologic and functional informations of the biliary system.

This article reviews clinical applications of contrast enhanced magnetic resonance cholangiography (CE-MRC) with two available hepatocyte specific contrast agents in Thailand, i.e. Gd-BOPTA and Gd-EOB-DTPA. These applications are differentiation biliary vs. extrabiliary lesions, pre-and post-operative evaluation, biliary tract obstruction, infection and inflammation of biliary system (acute cholecystitis, acute suppurative cholangitis, sclerosing cholangitis), and miscellaneous (sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, hydatid disease, intraductal papillary mucinous tumor of the bile ducts). However, the clinical applications of this imaging technique have not yet been fully explored; further investigations are needed.