Homogeneous enhancement of hepatic parenchyma: MR imaging during arterial portography versus CT during arterial portography.
BACKGROUND
The goal of this study was to investigate the frequency of inhomogeneous parenchymal enhancement of the liver in magnetic resonance imaging during arterial portography (MRAP) versus computed tomography during arterial portography (CTAP).


METHODS
CTAP and MRAP were performed in 29 and in 21 patients, respectively, who had suspected primary or secondary liver tumors on clinical or biological grounds. We evaluated the frequency of inhomogeneous hepatic parenchymal enhancement not related to a decrease of portal blood supply due to compression or obstruction by the tumor and physiologic variation in portal perfusion. Inhomogeneous parenchymal enhancement of the liver was classified as segmental or subsegmental and as nonsegmental.


RESULTS
Segmental or subsegmental inhomogeneous parenchymal enhancement was seen in six of 29 patients (20.1%) on CTAP and in one of 21 patients (4.8%) on MRAP. Nonsegmental inhomogeneous parenchymal enhancement was seen in five of 29 patients (17.2%) on CTAP images and in none of the patients (0%) on MRAP images. The incidence of nonsegmental inhomogeneous parenchymal enhancement was significantly lower on MRAP than on CTAP.


CONCLUSIONS
MRAP was superior to CTAP in achieving homogeneous parenchymal enhancement of the liver.
Fujita
T
T
Department of Radiology, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, 1144, Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755, Japan.
Honjo
K
K
Ito
K
K
Matsumoto
T
T
Matsunaga
N
N
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D007479:Iopamidol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries; D008875:Middle Aged; D011168:Portal System / Q000473:pathology; D011172:Portography; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media; D007479:Iopamidol