Mukta Dilipkumar Agrawal1, Kevin W. Mennitt1, Honglei Zhang1, Benjamin Samstein2, Jean C. Emond2, Tomoaki Kato2, Martin R. Prince1, 3
1Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, United States; 2Liver transplantation surgery, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; 3Radiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
PURPOSE: To assess low dose morphine for improved visualization of intrahepatic bile ducts on T1 magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC), in potential liver donors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 60 consecutive potential liver donors were assessed without (n=30) or with (n=30) intravenous morphine for Intra hepatic biliary branch order visualization, CBD diameter and overall image quality. RESULTS: At 45 and 60 minutes post morphine, mean intra hepatic bile duct branch order visualization, CBD diameter and over all image quality scores were greater compared to without morphine (p< 0.05). CONCLUSION: Intravenous low dose morphine distends and improves visualization of bile ducts on T1 MRC.