The clinical impact of magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosing focal hepatic lesions and suspected cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the clinical utility of contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to ultrasound (USS) and computed tomography (CT) in focal hepatic lesions (FHLs)


METHODS
This retrospective study analysed 125 consecutive iron oxide enhanced (SPIO) MRI.


RESULTS
MRI made a difference in 74% of patients who had USS and in 42% of patients who had a CT scan. In suspected cancer, MRI changed diagnosis in 58% and 37% (13/35), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
MRI is superior to other noninvasive imaging modalities for lesion identification and characterisation.
Shah
Ankur J
AJ
Department of Surgery, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, UK. ashah249@gmail.com
Parsons
Brian
B
Pope
Ian
I
Callaway
Mark
M
Finch-Jones
M D
MD
Thomas
Michael G
MG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
D003287:Contrast Media; D005290:Ferric Compounds; C000499:ferric oxide