Infectious liver foci in leukemia: comparison of short-inversion-time inversion-recovery, T1-weighted spin-echo, and dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the performances of three different magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques in the evaluation of patients with leukemia and suspected hepatic candidiasis.


METHODS
Twelve patients with acute leukemia and definite or clinically suspected hepatic candidiasis were imaged at 1.0 T with a T1-weighted spin-echo (SE) technique, a short-inversion-time inversion-recovery (STIR) fat-suppression technique, and a dynamic gadolinium-enhanced fast low-angle shot (FLASH) technique. The conspicuity of hepatic lesions was evaluated semiquantitatively and ranked on a three-point scale.


RESULTS
Multiple liver lesions were seen as high-signal-intensity foci with the STIR sequence; other sequences showed equivocal results. In the semiquantitative evaluation, STIR was significantly (P < .001) superior to both T1-weighted SE and contrast-enhanced FLASH techniques. Multiple red blood cell transfusions affected lesion conspicuity.


CONCLUSIONS
STIR imaging is recommended as the MR technique of choice at 1.0 T in the evaluation of infectious liver foci in patients with acute leukemia.
Lamminen
A E
AE
Department of Radiology, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.
Anttila
V J
VJ
Bondestam
S
S
Ruutu
T
T
Ruutu
P J
PJ
D000208:Acute Disease; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000150:complications*; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008100:Liver Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications*
D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA