title: Multidetector helical CT of the liver for tumor detection and characterization.
abstract: Multidetector-row CT (MDCT) scanners have been recently introduced into clinical practice. Major attributes that are improved are the z-axis coverage speed and the longitudinal resolution. These improvements translate into rapid hepatic imaging and allow new imaging protocols. Thin sections can now be used on a routine basis in single-breath-hold technique. This results in improved lesion detection and the nearly isotropic image acquisition provides high-resolution multiplanar reformations. Furthermore, the ability to scan through the entire liver in 10 s or less allows acquisition of two separate sets of CT images of the liver within the time generally regarded as the hepatic arterial dominant phase in monoslice CT; thus, MDCT may demonstrate three clear separate distinct hepatic circulatory phases with a triple-pass technique. Multidetector-row CT with the improvements in morphological and functional information compared with single-slice CT enables a comprehensive approach to hepatic imaging within a single examination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Strasse 3, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. andreas.kopp@uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Andreas F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heuschmid
authors.forename: Claus D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Claussen
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media