CT and MRI Manifestations of Transplanted Liver

Objective To comprehensively analyze the imaging manifestations of the normal transplanted liver and the transplantation-related complications. Materials and Methods With GE Advantage Light Speed Qx/i multi-slice spiral CT scanner, 300 patients after liver transplantation received CT exam. The technical parameters used in CT scanning were 7.5/11.25 HQ mode, reconstruction thickness 3.75 mm, overlap reconstruction rate 70%. The scanning range was from the diaphragmatic fornix to the inferior border of L3. For enhanced CT scanning, dosage of 1.3 ml/kg was used with injection rate of 3ml/s and delayed time of 18～20 s, 40～45 s and 60～70 s, respectively. The data were processed by GE advantage Window 3.1～4.0 workstation. MRI, with Express technique (TR/TE=8 000 ms/256 ms), was performed in the patients who developed biliary complications after extraction of “T” tube. Results All patients showed perihepatic effusion, pleural effusion and compressed atelectasis. The other findings included accompaning-shadow of portal vein (n=10), anastomotic stenosis of hepatic artery (n=11), stenosis of the right hepatic artery origin (n=2), hepatic artery occlusion (n=2), aneurysmal dilatation of hepatic anastomotic stoma (n=6), portal vein anastomotic stenosis (n=5), stenosis of IVC (n=1), hepatic infarction (n=5), biliary anastomotic stenosis (n=6), bile duct stenosis (n=4), bile fistula (n=1), sludge or stone in the bile duct (n=3), hemorrhage of right adrenal gland (n=2), tumor recurrence (n=5), hemoperitoneum (n=3) and pneumoperitoneum (n=1).Conclusion Multi-slice spiral CT and MRCP can clearly show the vascular and biliary complications in patients having received liver transplantation.