Preoperative Screening of Liver Donors

The investigators were able to find anatomic abnormalities in six of the patients that possibly could have affected either the selection or the surgery process. The MRI results were all corroborated at surgery.

"Preoperative imaging is crucial for both the selection of potential living liver donors and the planning of surgery because it reveals the exact anatomy of the donor liver. By performing MRI on a potential donor, doctors can assess any abnormality or variation in the liver itself, its vessels or its bile duct. To improve the accuracy of MRI, contrast media is used,” said Myeong-Jin Kim, M.D., Yonsei University College of Medicine (Seoul, Korea).

The more widely used gadolinium-based agents are preferable for imaging the liver and pathologic lesions and vessels, but not the bile duct. Other kinds of agents, such as mangafodipir trisodium, can improve imaging of the bile duct and liver but not the vessels. "As a result, the potential donor may need to undergo two separate MRI examinations so that the different contrast agents can be used. Gadobenate dimeglumine can help image the liver, bile duct, and vessels all at once,” said Dr. Kim. "Our study shows that the use of this new agent may decrease the examination costs and time for preoperative MRI for potential living liver donors. By accurate evaluation of both vascular and biliary anatomy, adequate preoperative planning can be ensured and it may be helpful to decrease the potential postoperative complications.”





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Yonsei University College of Medicine