title: Magnetic resonance imaging appearance of well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the MRI of 32 patients with 33 pathologically confirmed well-differentiated HCC. The MRI protocol included T2-weighted imaging with and without fat saturation, dual-phase T1-weighted imaging, and gadolinium-enhanced dynamic study. The signal intensity of each lesion was categorized as hyperintense, isointense, and hypointense with reference to the surrounding liver parenchyma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-one (93.9%) of 33 well-differentiated HCC were demonstrated on the MRI. The remaining 2 were isointense in all magnetic resonance sequences and, therefore, could not be identified. Most of them were hyperintense (n = 15 [45.4%]) or isointense (n = 16 [48.5%]) on T1-weighted imaging, and hyperintense (n = 12 [36.4%]) or isointense (n = 17 [51.5%]) on T2-weighted imaging. On the dynamic study, 17 lesions (51.5%) were enhanced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRI may identify most well-differentiated HCC; however, the imaging appearance is diverse. Biopsy should be performed if magnetic resonance study is inconclusive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Renai Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chao-Shiang
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ran-Chou
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jiunn-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lii
authors.forename: Wei-Tsung
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Li-Sun
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Ting-An
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hsing-Yang
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Tu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA