Ferucarbotran versus Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging in the detection of focal hepatic lesions.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of ferucarbotran-enhanced MR imaging in the detection of focal hepatic lesions compared to plain and Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging.


METHODS
Fifty-nine patients with suspected focal hepatic lesions were admitted to the study. Plain MR imaging (FSE T(2)WI with fat suppression and GRE T(1)WI sequences) and Gd-DTPA dynamic enhanced MR of the liver were initially performed followed by ferucarbotran-enhanced MR imaging 48 h later (including GRE T(1)WI, FSE T(2)WI with fat suppression, and GRE T(2)WI sequences). Images were reviewed independently by three observers. Results were correlated with surgery and pathologic examination or reference examination, and sensitivity was statistically calculated for the different MR imaging sequences.


RESULTS
Among all confirmed lesions (n = 133), ferucarbotran-enhanced MR imaging revealed 130 lesions on FSE T(2)WI with fat suppression, 115 lesions on dynamic T(1)WI GRE, and 127 lesions on GRE T(2)WI. Pre-contrast MR imaging revealed only 84 lesions on GRE T(1)WI and 106 lesions on FSE T(2)WI with fat suppression, while Gd-DTPA dynamic enhanced GRE T(1)WI revealed 123 lesions. For 44 micro-lesions (< 1.0 cm) in all patients the detection rates were as follows: ferucarbotran-enhanced FSE T(2)WI with fat suppression, 93.2% (41/44); ferucarbotran-enhanced GRE T(2)WI, 88.6% (39/44); Gd-DTPA dynamic-enhanced GRE T(1)WI, 79.5% (35/44); pre-contrast FSE T(2)WI with fat suppression, 54.5% (24/44); and pre-contrast GRE T(1)WI, 34.1% (15/44). In detecting micro-lesions, statistically significant difference was found for Ferucarbotran-enhanced FSE T(2)WI with fat suppression and GRE T(2)WI sequences compared to the other sequences (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Ferucarbotran-enhanced FSE T(2)WI with fat suppression and GRE T(2)WI sequences are superior in detecting micro-lesions (< 1 cm) in comparison with plain and Gd-DTPA dynamic-enhanced MR imaging.
Cheng
Wei-Zhong
WZ
Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, 180 Fenglin Rd, Shanghai 200032, China.
Zeng
Meng-Su
MS
Yan
Fu-Hua
FH
Rao
Shen-Xiang
SX
Shen
Ji-Zhang
JZ
Chen
Cai-Zhong
CZ
Zhang
Shu-Jie
SJ
Shi
Wei-Bin
WB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D020518:Focal Nodular Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014375:Tuberculoma / Q000175:diagnosis