Superparamagnetic iron oxide enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of rat liver with hepatocellular carcinoma and benign hyperplastic nodule.
OBJECTIVE
The authors assess the potential of a new superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) in grading hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) histologically and in differentiating HCC from benign hyperplastic nodule (HPN).


METHODS
Nine Wistar rats (with poorly to moderately differentiated HCC, well-differentiated HCC, and HPN) received drinking water containing N-nitrosomorpholine, and were examined by magnetic resonance imaging (4.7 tesla). Spin-echo images (repetition time/echo time, 600/24.5 mseconds) were obtained before and 15 minutes after intravenous administration of 10 mumol Fe/kg of SH U 555A.


RESULTS
Poorly to moderately differentiated and well-differentiated HCC showed no significant change in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) 15 minutes after contrast, whereas HPN showed a significant decrease in SNR. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between each kind of tumor and adjacent liver parenchyma showed a significant increase at 15 minutes after contrast.


CONCLUSIONS
The SPIO discussed in this article may help to differentiate HCC from HPN, but it remains difficult to grade hepatocellular carcinoma histologically.
Ishida
T
T
Department of Radiology, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Murakami
T
T
Kato
N
N
Takahashi
M
M
Miyazawa
T
T
Tsuda
K
K
Tomoda
K
K
Narumi
Y
Y
Nakamura
H
H
D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007501:Iron; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D008297:Male; D010087:Oxides; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D010087:Oxides; D007501:Iron; C065507:ferumoxides; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide