Morphine three-dimensional T1 gadoxetate MR cholangiography of potential living related liver donors

Purpose To assess low-dose morphine for distension and improved visualization of intrahepatic bile ducts on T1 MR cholangiography (MRC) in preoperative imaging of potential liver donors. Materials and Methods Sixty-nine consecutive potential living related liver donors (mean age, 39 years; age range, 20 to 59 years) referred for pre-transplant MRI evaluation were evaluated without (n = 30) or with (n = 39) intravenous morphine injection (0.04 mg/kg). Morphine was injected pre-MRI while establishing intravenous access to allow ∼1 h for biliary distension before T1 MRC. Three radiologists reviewed intrahepatic biliary branch order visualization, common bile duct (CBD) diameter, and overall image quality. In 25 patients undergoing liver donation surgery, T1 MRC findings were correlated with intraoperative findings. This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board. Results Biliary visualization was improved post-morphine administration with biliary duct branch order visualization score of 3.2 and 3.3 at 45 and 60 min, respectively, compared with 2.7 without morphine (P < 0.002); CBD diameter measured 5.3 and 5.5 versus 4.1 mm (P < 0.005), and overall image quality score was 2.4 and 2.6 versus 1.8 (P < 0.0006). Operative notes confirmed T1 MRC findings in 6/11 donors without morphine and 14/14 donors with morphine. Conclusion Intravenous low-dose morphine distends and improves visualization of bile ducts on T1 gadoxetate MRC. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2014;39:584–589. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.