MR imaging of non-cancerous hepatic lesions in Long-Evans cinnamon rats.
We measured MR images of the liver of Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats with pathologic correlation and assessed the effectiveness of MR imaging (MRI) for diagnosis of noncancerous hepatic lesions. T1- and T2-weighted images of their livers were obtained, and the dynamic and delayed studies after intravenous gadolinium injection were also performed. Cholangiofibrosis showed low signal intensity on T1-weighted images and high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. The T2 relaxation time of cholangiofibrosis was significantly prolonged (p < .01), and the signal intensity ratio of this lesion to muscle on T1-weighted images was significantly lower than that of normal liver parenchyma to muscle (p < .01). The lesion was enhanced immediately after gadolinium injection and the enhancement was prolonged. Among three cases of peliosis hepatis identified, one showed heterogeneous intensities on both T1- and T2-weighted images and the other two showed similar intensity pattern to cholangiofibrosis. The characteristic MR appearance of cholangiofibrosis may be useful to distinguish it from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Yoshioka
H
H
National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305, Japan.
Itai
Y
Y
Onaya
H
H
Doy
M
M
Mitsumori
F
F
D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010382:Peliosis Hepatis / Q000175:diagnosis; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D051381:Rats; D011922:Rats, Mutant Strains
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA