Enhancing contrast of magnetic resonance imaging in patients with liver cirrhosis: Conveyance times of Primovist in hepatobiliary system

Purpose: To determine transit times for excretion of gadoxetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA), a recent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent, in hepatobiliary system of patients with liver cirrhosis.
Methods: Liver cirrhosis patients that underwent contrast MRI examination at Renai Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan were included. The patients who have experienced contrast-enhanced abdominal MR examination after injection of 10 mL Gd-EOB-DTPA at 1.5-T MR from December 2009 to March 2011, were included retrospectively. The images were evaluated for the presence of contrast agent in intrahepatic bile ducts (IHD), common bile duct (CBD), gall bladder and duodenum.
Results: The optimal time for arterial phase was from 15 s after injection while the optimal time for portal venous imaging was from 40 s after injection. Furthermore, the optimal time to observe changes was 20 min after contrast initiation of Gd-EOB-DTPA in 39 patients (83 %) in IHD and 37 patients (78.5 %) in CBD. Gall bladder reflux was visible in 26 patients (43 %), and duodenal excretion in 17 patients (36 %). After 30 min of contrast injection, Gd-EOB-DTPA could still be detected in 6 patients (13 %) in IHD and 7 patients (15 %) in CBD, while gall bladder reflux was visible in 10 patients (21 %), and duodenal excretion in 20 patients (55 %).
Conclusion: The excretion of Gd-EOB-DTPA can be observed in liver cirrhosis patients.

Keywords
Hepatocellular carcinoma, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Gadoxetic acid, Common hepatic duct