ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To clarify magnetic resonance (MR) signal changes during hepatobiliary imaging after oral ingestion of manganese chloride tetrahydrate (Bothdel Oral Solution 10) (MCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were an MCT phantom, 10 healthy volunteers and 155 consecutive patients. The phantom study evaluated the relationship between MCT concentration and MR signal intensity. The volunteer study qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed the time course of hepatobiliary imaging immediately and 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after oral ingestion of MCT. The clinical study analyzed the incidence and factors affecting signal changes on additional MRCP with MCT as a final scan during routine clinical MRCP. RESULTS: In the phantom study, a significant and excellent positive linear correlation was found between MCT concentration and R2* measurement (r(2) = 0.996, p < 0.01). In the volunteer study, biliary imaging and hepatic R2* values changed significantly after oral ingestion of MCT (p < 0.05). In the clinical study, a signal drop on MRCP with MCT was visually confirmed in 14.8 % of cases. Multivariate logistic regression found no factors significantly affecting signal drop. CONCLUSION: We recommend performing MRCP early after oral ingestion of MCT, because signal changes occur even during routine MRCP.