MR-IMAGING EVALUATION OF LIVER ENHANCEMENT BY GD-EOB-DTPA IN SELECTIVE AND TOTAL BILE-DUCT OBSTRUCTION IN RATS - CORRELATION WITH SEROLOGIC, MICROCHOLANGIOGRAPHIC, AND HISTOLOGIC-FINDINGS

PURPOSE: To investigate the behavior and potential application of the hepatobiliary magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agent gadoliniu m-ethoxybenzyl (EOB)-diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid (DTPA) in cho lestasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rat models of selective biliary obstr uction (SBO) (n = 20) and total biliary obstruction (TBO) (n = 14) wer e used. Serial Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR images were obtained, and the f indings were correlated with serologic, microcholangiographic, and his tologic findings. RESULTS: In SBO rats, statistically significantly pr olonged enhancement of ligated lobes occurred during the acute phase ( P <.01) but was absent during the chronic phase owing to bile collater al vessels. In TBO rats, statistically significantly lower liver enhan cement (P <.01) was observed as long as the obstruction persisted, unt il collateral bile ducts developed. CONCLUSION: The distinction betwee n obstructed and unobstructed liver on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR images suggests a novel application for visualizing cholestasis.