[Multiphase, contrast-enhanced 3D-MR angiography for morphological and functional focal lesion detection. Initial results].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the value of multiphase breath-hold 3D gadolinium (Gd)-enhanced MR angiography (MRA) for lesion detection and characterization of focal liver lesions.


METHODS
Breath-hold 3D Gd-enhanced MRA was performed in 25 patients with benign and malignant hepatic lesions on a 1.5-T MR system using an ultrafast 3D spoiled gradient echo sequence (TR/TE =5/2 ms, FOV=300-450 mm, matrix=256x168, voxel volume=1.8x2.3 x2.5 mm, 64 partitions, central k-space reordering; acquisition time=27 s). Three measurements were done in the arterial, portal venous, and late venous phase.


RESULTS
The analysis of the spatial and temporal evolution of contrast enhancement of the 3D-MRA improved significantly (P<0.01) lesion detection and characterization if compared with T1 precontrast, T2-weighted, and T1 postcontrast images.


CONCLUSIONS
Multiphase breath-hold 3D Gd-enhanced MRA imaging is a robust new technique to significantly improve morphological detection of benign and malignant lesions during the early arterial phase and further improves functional characterization of liver lesions by a combination of an arterial, a portal venous, and a late venous phase. Schlüssselwörter Multiphasisch. MR-Angiographie. Leberläsionen
Hawighorst
H
H
Forschungsschwerpunkt Radiologische Diagnostik und Therapie, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg.
Schoenberg
S O
SO
Schlemmer
H P
HP
Hansmann
J
J
van Kaick
G
G
D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media