title: Dysplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinoma: thin-section MR imaging of explanted cirrhotic livers with pathologic correlation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate detection and characterization of hepatocellular nodules in fresh whole explanted cirrhotic livers at thin-section magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.
  
  
  METHODS
  T1-weighted spin-echo and T2-weighted fast spin-echo MR imaging (5-mm-thick sections) were performed in a head coil at 1.5 T in the whole cirrhotic livers of 28 consecutive patients within 4 hours of explantation. MR imaging findings were correlated with findings at pathologic examination, and new international terminology was used to classify the hepatocellular nodules.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At pathologic examination, 42 suspect (other than regenerative) nodules were identified in 11 patients. MR imaging depicted 41 of 42 (98%) of these nodules (five of five hepatocellular carcinomas [HCCs {diameter, > or = 2 cm}], 10 of 10 small HCCs [diameter, < 2 cm], two of two dysplastic nodules with subfoci of HCC, three of three high-grade dysplastic nodules, and 21 of 22 low-grade dysplastic nodules. Lesions demonstrated the following combinations of signal intensity characteristics on thin-section T1- and T2-weighted images, respectively: HCC, hyperintense, hypointense (n = 3); hyperintense, hyperintense (n = 1); hypointense, isointense (n = 1). Small HCC, hyperintense, hypointense (n = 7); hypointense, hyperintense (n = 2); hyperintense, hyperintense (n = 1). Both dysplastic nodules with subfoci of HCC, hyperintense, hypointense. All seven nonsiderotic low-grade dysplastic nodules, hyperintense, hypointense. All 14 siderotic low-grade dysplastic nodules, hypointense, hypointense. All three high-grade dysplastic nodules, hyperintense, hypointense.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The variable signal intensity characteristics of HCCs made reliable diagnosis impossible, but the thinsection unenhanced in vitro MR images were sensitive for detection of HCCs and dysplastic nodules in cirrhotic livers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, New York University Medical Center, NY 10016, USA.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Earls
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Theise
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Weinreb
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: DeCorato
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Krinsky
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Rofsky
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mizrachi
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Teperman
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009626:Terminology as Topic