Single breath-hold multiarterial dynamic MRI of the liver at 3T using a 3D fat-suppressed keyhole technique.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility of single breath-hold, multiarterial MRI of the liver using the THRIVE-CENTRA-keyhole technique.


METHODS
Twenty-eight patients with 63 focal hepatic lesions underwent liver MR examinations that included the three-dimensional THRIVE-CENTRA-keyhole sequence. Three or six phases were obtained for arterial phase scanning during a single breath-hold. Central k-space data were collected for each phase but the remaining peripheral k-space data were collected only once. The enhancement pattern of each hepatic lesion was analyzed according to the specific diagnosis.


RESULTS
Hepatocellular carcinomas (n = 24) enhancement patterns included: rim enhancing (n = 9), homogeneous (n = 7), nodule-in-nodule (n = 5), or heterogeneous (n = 3). A late peritumoral rim was observed in four (17%) of the hepatocellular carcinomas. Most metastases (17 of 18; 94%) demonstrated peripheral rim enhancement. The progressive centripetal enhancement of hemangiomas (n = 6) was clearly depicted. Focal nodular hyperplasia (n = 4) showed early homogeneous enhancement and one lesion demonstrated a central scar.


CONCLUSIONS
The THRIVE-CENTRA-keyhole technique can be used to acquire single breath-hold, multiarterial images depicting improved enhancement characteristics of focal hepatic lesions. This technique will allow accurate timing of arterial scanning with 3D acquisition and high temporal resolution.
Hong
Hye-Suk
HS
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Kim
Hua Sun
HS
Kim
Myeong-Jin
MJ
De Becker
Jan
J
Mitchell
Donald G
DG
Kanematsu
Masayuki
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds
D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C064572:gadobenic acid; D008536:Meglumine