Work in progress: nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of the gallbladder

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Radiology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1148/radiology.147.2.6836126· OSTI ID:5743520

Hricak, H; Filly, R A; Margulis, A R; Moon, K L; Crooks, L E; Kaufman, L

A preliminary study of the relation between food intake and intensity of gallbladder bile on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) images was made. Twelve subjects (seven volunteers, five patients) were imaged following a minimum of 14 hours of fasting. Six of seven volunteers were reimaged one hour after stimulation by either a fatty meal or an alcoholic beverage. An additional seven patients were imaged two hours after a hospital breakfast. It was found that concentrated bile emits a high-intensity spin echo signal (SE), while hepatic bile in the gallbladder produces a low-intensity SE signal. Following ingestion of cholecystogogue, dilute hepatic bile settles on top of the concentrated bile, each emitting SE signals of different intensity. The average T1 value of concentrated bile was 594 msec, while the T1 vaue of dilute hepatic bile was 2,646 msec. The average T2 values were 104 msec for concentrated bile and 126 msec for dilute bile. The most likely cause for the different SE intensities of bile is the higher water content, and therefore longer T1 or T2 relaxation times, of hepatic bile. It is suggested that NMR imaging has the ability to provide physiological information about the gallbladder and that it may prove to be a simple and safe clinical test of gallbladder function.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, San Francisco
• OSTI ID: 5743520
• Journal Information: Radiology; (United States), Journal Name: Radiology; (United States) Vol. 147:2; ISSN RADLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550602* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Diagnostics-- (1980-)
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BILIARY TRACT
BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
FASTING
FUNCTIONS
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
PATIENTS
RESONANCE