[en] The purpose of this study was to evaluate depiction of the cystic duct and cysticohepatic junction by MR cholangiography (MRC). In 10 volunteers, MR cholangiograms were obtained by breath-hold two-dimensional (2D), respiratory-triggered 2D, respiratory-triggered three-dimensional (3D) single slab, and 3D multislab techniques. The images then were compared qualitatively. MRC using the respiratory-triggered 3D multislab techniques was evaluated as better than the other techniques, and was performed in 35 patients. Depiction of the anatomy of the cystic duct and cysticohepatic junction were evaluated. In 8 of 35 patients, MRC images were compared with those obtained by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC). The cystic duct and cysticohepatic junction were visualized adequately in 93% of volunteers and patients by the respiratory-triggered 3D multislab technique. Anatomic variations in the cystic duct and cysticohepatic junction were evaluated. The frequency of anatomic variations was the same as previously reported. The anatomic evaluations obtained by MRC were correlated closely with those obtained by ERC in 8 patients. In conclusion, MRC with the respiratory-triggered 3D multislab technique is useful in evaluation of the cystic duct and cysticohepatic junction. (author)

[en] Volume reduction surgery has recently been an important surgical procedure for patients with severe pulmonary emphysema. We compared the sagittal and coronal images taken by the HASTE sequence with those obtained by turbo FLASH during deep breathing and with CT images obtained under deep inspiration. Clear images were obtained from both sequences, without cardiac or respiratory motion artifacts. The emphysematous areas were demonstrated as low signal intensity areas, as in CT images. The ratio of signal intensity in the expiratory phase to that in the inspiratory phase was lower than that of volunteers in the HASTE sequence. The HASTE sequence provides useful information about respiratory movement as well as about changes in the pulmonary parenchyma when used for preoperative examination. (author)

[en] It is extremely important to have a good grasp of the acceptable limit of hepatectomy before operation because postoperative liver failure can take a fatal course; however, baseline data on the limit of hepatectomy have not been clearly defined. We therefore evaluated and compared the predicted remnant liver function obtained by computed tomography(CT) and technetium-99m diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin (^99mTc-GSA) liver scintigraphy in order to obtain precise data regarding remnant liver function before hepatectomy. We investigated 20 patients undergoing hepatectomy using the clearance rate of indocyanine green (KICG) as a parameter, and compared the predicted postoperative KICG obtained by CT and by transaxial single-photon emission tomographic (SPET) images acquired by ^99mTc GSA liver scintigraphy before hepatectomy. In GSA studies, based on time-activity curves for the heart and liver, we compared HH15 (heart activity at 15 min divided by heart activity at 3 min), LHL15 (liver activcity at 15 min divided by heart plus liver activity at 15 min) and K_L (obtained from the time-activity curve for the liver) in 103 patients. In 58 patients without increased serum bilirubin, K_L was compared with KICG. In four patients, occlusion of the right portal vein was performed with the aim of carrying out secondary hepatectomy, and changes in liver volume were compared between CT and ^99mTc GSA liver scintigraphy. The correlation coefficient between the postoperative KICG predicted by CT and the actual postoperative KICG was rather poor, at r = 0.569 (P<0.05); that between the postoperative KICG predicted by ^99mTc GSA liver scintigraphy and the actual postoperative KICG was good, at r = 0.788 (P<0.01); correlations between K_L and HH15 and between K_L and LHL15 in 103 patients were very good or good, at r = 0.906 (P<0.001) and r = 0.807 (P<0.001), respectively, and that between K_L and KICG in 58 patients was very good, at r = 0.916 (P<0.001). In all four cases of right portal vein occlusion, the remnant liver volume ratio was markedly increased after occlusion in GSA compared with CT, and the postoperative KICG predicted by GSA after occlusion was closer to the actual postoperative KICG than that predicted by CT. It is concluded that ^99mTc GSA liver scintigraphy is useful for predicting remnant liver function before hepatectomy and for evaluating changes in regional liver function after occlusion of the portal vein unilaterally. (orig.)

[en] The purpose of this study was to examine the appearance of struma ovarii on MR and CT images. All 13 patients showed both cystic and solid components with a multilobulated surface and thickened septa. Various signal intensities were seen on both T1WI and T2WI. The cystic component, which showed low signal intensity on T2WI, showed high density on CT images. The characteristic MR and CT appearance of struma ovarii appears to be that of multicystic tumor indicating the presence of viscid materials containing iodine. (author)