title: Conventional and rapid MR imaging of the liver with Gd-DTPA.
abstract: Twenty-three patients with malignant hepatic tumors underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging before and after intravenous administration of gadolinium-diethylene-triaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). Two different doses were used, 0.1 mmol/kg and 0.2 mmol/kg. The larger dose proved to be more effective than the smaller dose. The signal-enhancement-to-noise ratio was significantly larger in the tumor than in the liver (2 alpha less than or equal to .05). In a moderately T1-weighted spin echo (SE) sequence (SE 400/30) (repetition time [TR] msec/echo time [TE] msec), the tumor was better defined 6 minutes after administration of Gd-DTPA. More strongly T1-weighted sequences--that is, SE 200/20 and inversion recovery 1,500/35/400 (TR msec/TE msec/inversion time, msec)--showed significantly worse contrast between tumor and liver (signal-difference-to-noise ratio [SD/N]) 10 and 15 minutes after administration (2 alpha less than or equal to .05). On the other hand, the low SD/N in the rapid MR imaging sequence was significantly improved (2 alpha less than or equal to .05). The most important indications for administration of Gd-DTPA in diagnosing hepatic tumors are the presentation of perfusion conditions and contrast optimization in rapid MR images.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA