title: Diagnostic performance of CT, MRI and PET/CT in patients with suspected colorectal liver metastases: the superiority of MRI.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Meticulous imaging of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) is mandatory to optimize outcome after liver resection. However, the detection of CRLM is still challenging.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate prospectively if magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffusion-weighted and Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced sequences had a better diagnostic performance for CRLM compared to computed tomography (CT) and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET/CT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six patients scheduled for resection of suspected CRLM were evaluated prospectively from September 2011 to January 2013. None of the patients had undergone previous treatment for their CRLM. Multiphase CT, liver MRI with diffusion-weighted and dynamic Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced sequences and low-dose PET/CT were performed. Two independent, blinded readers evaluated the examinations. The reference standard was histopathological confirmation (81/140 CRLM) or follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 140 CRLM and 196 benign lesions were identified. On a per-lesion basis, MRI had the significantly highest sensitivity overall and for CRLM < 10 mm (P < 0.001). Overall sensitivity/specificity and PPV/NPV were 68%/94% and 89%/81% for CT, 90%/87% and 82%/93% for MRI, and 61%/99% and 97%/78% for PET/CT. For CRLM < 10 mm it was 16%/96% and 54%/80% for CT, 74%/88% and 64%/93% for MRI, and 9%/98% and 57%/79% for PET/CT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRI had the significantly highest sensitivity compared with CT and PET/CT, particularly for CRLM < 10 mm. Therefore, detection of CRLM should be based on MRI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway anselm.schulz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Anselm
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Viktil
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Johannes Clemens
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Godt
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Cathrine K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Johann Baptist
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Dormagen
authors.affiliation: The Intervention Centre, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Jon Erik
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Holtedahl
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Knut Jørgen
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Labori
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Tore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bach-Gansmo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Nils-Einar
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Kløw
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072078:Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C073590:gadolinium ethoxybenzyl DTPA; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA
keywords: Abdomen/GI; computed tomography (CT); liver; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); metastases; positron emission tomography (PET)