Hepatic Relaxation Times from Postmortem MR Imaging of Adult Humans

PURPOSE: To measure T(1) and T(2) values of hepatic postmortem magnetic resonance (PMMR) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed hepatic PMMR imaging of 22 deceased adults (16 men, 6 women; mean age, 56.3 years) whose deaths were for reasons other than liver injury or disease at a mean of 27.7 hours after death. Before imaging, the bodies were kept in cold storage at 4°C (mean rectal temperature, 17.6°C). We measured T(1) and T(2) values in the liver at two sites (the anterior segment of the right lobe and the lateral segment of the left lobe). We also investigated the influence of the body temperature and postmortem interval on T(1) and T(2) values. RESULTS: In the anterior segment of the right lobe and the lateral segment of the left lobe, T(1) values of PMMR imaging were 524 ± 112 ms and 472 ± 104 ms (mean ± standard deviation), respectively; while T(2) values were 42 ± 6 ms and 43 ± 8 ms, respectively. T(1) and T(2) values did not differ significantly between the two sites (P ≧ 0.05). Regarding temperature, the T(2) values of hepatic PMMR imaging were linearly correlated with the body temperature, but the T(1) values were not. The T(1) and T(2) values of the two sites in the liver did not correlate with the postmortem interval. CONCLUSION: Reduction in body temperature after death is considered to induce T(1) and T(2) value changes in the liver on PMMR imaging.