Detection of focal hepatic lesions: effects of superparamagnetic iron oxide (AMI-25) on magnetic resonance imaging of the liver using T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequences and gradient-and-spin-echo sequences at 1.0 tesla.
OBJECTIVE
The authors evaluate the value of two fast spin-echo sequences (FSE) with different T2-weighting (repetition time [TR]/echo time [TE] = 2000/90 mseconds and TR/TE = 2000/40 mseconds) and combined gradient-and-spin-echo sequences (TR/TE = 2000/90 mseconds) for contrast-enhanced liver imaging with superparamagnetic iron oxide (AMI-25).


METHODS
Forty-seven patients with focal liver lesions underwent magnetic resonance imaging at 1.0 tesla. AMI-25 was administered intravenously at a dose of 15 micromol iron/kg.


RESULTS
Administration of AMI-25 resulted in a significant increase of lesion/liver contrast-to-noise ratio (C/N) for all T2-weighted sequences (P < 0.001). On the precontrast images, the FSE sequence with a TE of 90 mseconds had the highest C/N (16.0 +/- 4.5) whereas the best postcontrast C/N (27.9 +/- 7.6) was obtained with the mild T2-weighted FSE sequence with a TE of 40 mseconds.


CONCLUSIONS
Fast spin-echo sequences are valuable sequences for imaging of the liver at 1.0 tesla. For AMI-25-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, a mild T2-weighted FSE sequence is recommended.
Jung
G
G
Department of Radiology at the University of Cologne, Germany.
Krahe
T
T
Kugel
H
H
Gieseke
J
J
Walter
C
C
Lackner
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007501:Iron; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010087:Oxides
D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D010087:Oxides; D007501:Iron; C065507:ferumoxides; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide