EVALUATION OF A NON-BREATH-HOLD MR CHOLANGIOGRAPHY TECHNIQUE

PURPOSE: To evaluate prospectively a non-breath-hold magnetic resonanc e (MR) cholangiographic technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine non-breath-hold,heavily T2-weighted, turbo spin-echo MR cholangiograms were obtained in 28 patients and compared with 28 direct cholangiogra phic studies in 24 patients. RESULTS: MR cholangiography showed the in trahepatic ducts (IHDs) within the peripheral third of the liver and w ithin the four hepatic segments in 100% of cases with dilated ducts. I HDs were seen in the peripheral third in 82% of cases with nondilated ducts and within the four hepatic segments in 91%. The extrahepatic du ct (EHD), dilated and nondilated, was visualized in 90% of cases. Fill ing defects were identified in the EHD in 71% of cases and in the gall bladder in 100%. All obstructions were identified and their site and c haracter accurately shown in most cases. The presence of IHD dilatatio n was accurately shown, and estimates of EHD and main pancreatic duct caliber correlated closely with those of direct cholangiography. CONCL USION: Non-breath-hold MR cholangiography is a reliable method for dep iction of the biliary system.