Related Experiment Videos
[The optimization of MR cholangiopancreatography]
S Obenauer1, U Fischer, M Heuser
1Abt. Röntgendiagnostik I, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen. soben@med.uni-goettingen.de
Purpose:
To improve the image quality of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) by modification of examination conditions.
Materials And Methods:
MRCP of 72 patients was performed with a 1.5 T system (Magnetom Vision, Siemens, 25 mT/m) using two breath-hold techniques, half-fourier acquisition with multislice T2-WI HASTE in MIP technique, and single shot T2-WI turbo-spin-echo (RARE) with different slice thicknesses. The effects of n-butylscopolamine were assessed. Furthermore, oral contrast agents [barium sulfate, Fe(II)-gluconate, Fe(II,III)-oxide] in various concentrations were used. The slice thickness was varied for the RARE sequence (3-7 cm).
Results:
N-butylscopolamine had no influence on image quality. Improvements could be attained by variation of the slice thickness. A significant reduction of disturbing background noise was obtained by oral application of iron gluconate, or iron oxide-containing contrast media. Similar improvements were achieved with barium sulfate.
Conclusions:
Variation of slice thickness allows an improvement of MRCP quality. Oral contrast media improve the image quality of MRCP. The expense of contrast media may be a determinant of choice.