3DFT-FISP MRI with gadopentetate dimeglumine in differential diagnosis of small liver tumors.
OBJECTIVE
We assessed the value of dynamic sequential three-dimensional Fourier transformation (3DFT) MRI in differentiating various types of small liver tumors.


METHODS
Forty-seven patients with 65 liver masses < 3 cm in size (42 hepatocellular carcinomas, 11 hemangiomas, 12 metastatic tumors) were studied by 3DFT fast imaging with steady-state precession (FISP) MRI [TR(ms)/TE(ms)/flip angle (degree): 20/8/30]. The slab thickness was 21-35 mm, and there were seven partitions. The 3DFT-FISP MR images were obtained immediately after 0.1 mmol/kg of gadopentetate dimeglumine was administered intravenously over 2-3 s (early phase), 60 s after (late phase I), and 120 s after (late phase II).


RESULTS
Eighty-six percent of small hepatocellular carcinomas showed hyperintense enhancement relative to the surrounding liver parenchyma and iso- or hypointense enhancement with or without capsular enhancement in the late phase. Eighty-two percent of small hemangiomas showed peripheral globular enhancement in the early phase and total hyperintense or peripheral enhancement in the late phases. Ninety-two percent of the small metastatic liver tumors showed doughnut-like ring enhancement in the early phase.


CONCLUSIONS
By dynamic 3DFT-FISP MRI, we were able to accurately evaluate the hemodynamics and morphological findings of each type of small liver tumor.
Nakamura
H
H
Department of Radiology, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Murakami
T
T
Ishida
T
T
Tsuda
K
K
Hashimoto
T
T
Nakanishi
K
K
Mitani
T
T
Tomoda
K
K
Hori
S
S
Kozuka
T
T
D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA