[Clinical efficacy of suppression and visualization of the duodenal fluid in MR cholangiopancreatography using ferric ammonium citrate]

Abstract

The high signal intensity from the intestinal fluid usually deteriorates the projection images of MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) because it superimposes on the biliary tract. FerriSeltz (Otsuka pharmaceutical, Tokushima, Japan; a ferric ammonium citrate-based positive oral contrast agent) solution in a twelve fold higher concentration has a significant T2 shortening effect and could be used as a negative contrast agent suppressing the signal from intestinal fluid. Recently, we developed a new method named as "Dual Contrast MRCP" with intermediately concentrated FerriSeltz solution. This method provides MRCP both with and without duodenal image depending on TE length and is worth while screening of duodenal lesion even in a case with a small mount of duodenal fluid.