MR appearance of the liver after partial hepatectomy

To define the MR appearance of the liver after partial hepatectomy, we reviewed retrospectively 61 MR examinations performed on 25 patients 10 days to 48 months after surgery. Twenty-seven partial hepatectomies performed in the 25 patients included right lobectomy in 11, trisegmentectomy in two, left lobectomy in five, and wedge resection in nine. By using vascular landmarks, demonstration of the falciform ligament, and the presence of surgical clips, we correctly identified the type of partial hepatectomy in 21 of the 25 patients. The signal intensity of the resection margin was similar to that of the remaining parenchyma in 16 of 18 patients and was poorly defined and had a higher signal intensity (T2-weighted image) in the remaining two. Liver regeneration was observed on serial MR scans 2-16 months after surgery. Findings related to chemotherapy, including periportal changes and inhomogeneous appearance of the liver, were shown in six of eight patients. Tumor recurrence was present in nine patients, either intrahepatic (seven patients) or at the resection margin (two patients), and was consistently identified with MR imaging. The ability of MR imaging to produce images without artifacts from surgical clips is helpful in displaying the MR appearance of the liver after partial hepatectomy. Anatomic landmarks, findings related to chemotherapy, and tumor recurrence were shown well.