Effect of Gd-EOB-DTPA on T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted images for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) on T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
The phantom signal intensity was measured. We also evaluated 72 patients including 30 patients with HCC. T2WI and DWI were obtained before and then 4 and 20 min after injecting the contrast medium. The signal to noise ratio (SNR), contrast to noise ratio (CNR), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were calculated in the tumor and liver parenchyma.


RESULTS
The phantom signal intensity increased on T2WI at a concentration of contrast medium less than 0.2 mmol/L but decreased when the concentration exceeded 0.4 mmol/L. SNR of the liver parenchyma on T2WI was significantly different between before and 4 min after injecting the contrast medium, while there were no significant differences between before and 4 and 20 min after injection. On T2WI, SNR, and CNR of HCC showed no significant differences at any time. SNR, CNR, and ADC of the liver parenchyma and tumor on DWI also showed no significant differences at any time.


CONCLUSIONS
It is acceptable to perform T2WI and DWI after injection of Gd-EOB-DTPA for the diagnosis of HCC.
Saito
Kazuhiro
K
Department of Radiology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. saito-k@tokyo-med.ac.jp
Araki
Yoichi
Y
Park
Jinho
J
Metoki
Ryo
R
Katsuyama
Hiroaki
H
Nishio
Ryota
R
Kakizaki
Dai
D
Moriyasu
Fuminori
F
Tokuuye
Koichi
K
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D003287:Contrast Media; C073590:gadolinium ethoxybenzyl DTPA; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA