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Evaluation of Living Liver Transplant Donors: Method for Precise Anatomic Definition by Using a Dedicated Contrast-enhanced MR Imaging Protocol¹

¹ From the Departments of Radiology (D.S., R.D., R.K., J.M., S.S., P.R.M.) and Surgery (M.H.), Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, White 270, Boston, MA 02114. Recipient of a Certificate of Merit award for an education exhibit at the 2002 RSNA scientific assembly. Received August 26, 2003; revision requested November 14 and received January 29, 2004; accepted February 4. Address correspondence to D.S. (e-mail: dsahani@partners.org).

Liver transplantation from a living donor involves removal of part of the donor liver in a fashion that does not endanger its vascular supply or metabolic function. The radiologist plays an important role in evaluation of the living donor to define the conditions under which graft donation is contraindicated and to identify anatomic variations that may alter the surgical approach. In the past, diagnostic work-up of the donor involved costly and invasive tests. Currently, dynamic contrast material–enhanced computed tomography and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are the imaging tests performed, each of which has advantages and limitations. MR imaging performed with liver-specific and extravascular contrast agents may be used as a single imaging test for comprehensive noninvasive evaluation of living liver transplant donors. MR imaging provides valuable information about variations in the vascular and biliary anatomy and allows evaluation of the hepatic parenchyma for diffuse or focal abnormalities.

© RSNA, 2004

Index Terms: Bile ducts, MR, 76.12143 • Hepatic arteries, MR, 952.12942 • Hepatic veins, MR, 959.12942 • Liver, transplantation, 761.45 • Portal vein, MR, 957.12942

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