SEGMENTAL HYPERINTENSITY ON T1-WEIGHTED MRI OF THE LIVER - INDICATIONOF SEGMENTAL CHOLESTASIS

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between se gmental hyperintensity of the liver on T1-weighted images and segmenta l cholestasis in patients with obstructive jaundice. T1-weighted and T a-weighted MR images were obtained of 73 patients with obstructive jau ndice caused by various diseases, Fat-suppressed T1-weighted images we re also obtained of 10 patients. Eleven patients with segmental intrah epatic bile duct dilatation (cholestasis) showed segmental hyperintens ity on T1-weighted images and/or fat-suppressed T1-weighted images and no signal intensity difference on T2-weighted images. Sixty-two patie nts with widespread intrahepatic bile duct dilatation showed no intens ity difference on T1-weighted and T2-weighted images (P < .01), Segmen tal hyperintensity on T1-weighted images was correlated with intrahepa tic cholestasis.