Balanced MR Cholangiopancreatography with Motion-Sensitized Driven-Equilibrium (MSDE): Feasibility and Optimization of Imaging Parameter

Tomohiro Nakayama¹, Takashi Yoshiura¹, Yukihisa Takayama¹, Eiki Nagao¹, Tsuyoshi Tajima¹, Akihiro Nishie¹, Yoshiki Asayama¹, Kousei Ishigami¹, Daisuke Kakihara¹, Daisuke Okamoto¹, Hiroshi Honda¹, Tomoyuki Okuaki²

Motion-sensitized driven-equilibrium (MSDE) preparation was added to a balanced SSFP MRCP sequence in order to suppress disturbing high signal intensities from flowing blood in vessels. We performed a volunteer study to determine optimal VENC value for the evaluation of biliary systems. We found the optimum VENC values to be 3 or 5cm/s with best suppression of relative vessel signals to bile ducts. At a lower VENC value (1cm/s), signal of bile duct was reduced likely due to minimal biliary flow. Higher VENC values (> 7cm/s) resulted in failure of vessel signal suppression.