To compare liver lesion detection rates, tissue signal and noise data, and qualitative parameters for breath-hold (BH) and non-breath-hold (NBH) hybrid rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE) and conventional spin-echo (CSE) T2-weighted (CSE-T2) MR sequences, 20 patients were imaged using all three sequences. Lesion detection rates were 73.5% for the CSE-T2 sequence and 81.1% and 88.6% for the BH-RARE and NBH-RARE sequences, respectively (P = .027). Mean lesion-to-liver signal-difference-to-noise ratio for the NBH-RARE sequence was 14.0 +/- 11.5, significantly greater than 9.8 +/- 7.8 obtained for the BH-RARE sequence (P = .050) and 9.0 +/- 6.2 obtained for the CSE-T2 sequence (P = .015). The NBH-RARE sequence demonstrated fewer artifacts and greater overall image quality compared to the CSE-T2 sequence. The NBH-RARE sequence is a useful alternative to the liver signal-difference-to-noise ratio and lesion detection rate and better overall image quality.

Effective utilization of imaging in patients with severe acute pancreatitis requires an understanding of the subtypes and complications of pancreatitis. Imaging, particularly computed tomography, can confirm the diagnosis of pancreatitis, identify local complications, offer prognostic information, and guide therapeutic interventions. Conventional radiography, ultrasound, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and magnetic resonance imaging have important adjunctive roles in the evaluation and treatment of patients with severe acute pancreatitis. Early identification of pancreatic parenchymal necrosis and areas of infection facilitates timely and appropriate management of these often critically ill patients. Imaging-guided interventions can provide definitive or adjunctive treatment for fluid collections, biliary and pancreatic duct obstruction, and vascular complications.

This book addresses the range of appearances of the normal gallbladder and its variants. It begins with a discussion of the anatomy and embryology of the gallbladder and the imaging techniques employed in its evaluation. The sonographic appearance of the fetal gallbladder is also discussed. The bulk of the book details variations in gallbladder location, number, and form. It concludes with chapters on imaging artifacts and pseudolesions. Bile duct variants are not discussed except where they relate to a specific gallbladder entity.The illustrations of this volume are superb. The majority are ultrasound and CT scans, with a few oral cholecystograms, ERCP studies, and MR images included for completeness.This slim volume is very successful in conveying wide array of normal gallbladder appearances, variants, mimics, and artifacts. Its scope, however, is quite parochial so that this book will be primarily of interest to the true gallbladder imaging devot6e rather than the general radiologist.