Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Biliary and vascular complications are the main reason of failed liver transplantation. Magnetic resonance cholangiography is often used to diagnose biliary complications.
OBJECTIVE: To compare gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance cholangiography (CE-MRC) with conventional T2-weighted magnetic resonance cholangiography (T2WI-MRC) for evaluation of biliary complications after liver transplantation.
METHODS: 80 patients who received liver transplantation were examined with two magnetic resoance cholangiographic methods. The diagnosis value for biliary complications was compared between these two methods. All diagnoses were clinically confirmed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Among 80 patients, 71 patients acquired good image quality in T2WI-MRC and 59 acquired good image quality in CE-MRC, and there was significant difference (P < 0.05), indicating that T2WI-MRC is better than CE-MRC in biliary observation after liver transplantation. Among 34 patients presenting with biliary stricture, 23 patients were accurately diagnosed by T2WI-MRC and 30 patients were accurately diagnosed by CE-MRC, and there was significant difference (P < 0.05), indicating that CE-MRC is superior to T2WI-MRC in diagnosis of biliary stricture. Both T2WI-MRC and CE-MRC can evaluate biliary complications of liver transplantation. They have advantages and disadvantages separately and they produce better application effects after united application than single alone.