Dynamic spin-echo imaging with Gd-DTPA: value in the differentiation of hepatic tumors

Thirty patients with hemangiomas (n = 6), benign liver cell tumors (n = 7), and primary or metastatic malignant tumors of the liver (n = 17) underwent dynamic MR imaging with Gd-DTPA to determine the value of the procedure in the differentiation of hepatic tumors. The diagnoses were proved by histology or follow-up. Hemangiomas had a significantly greater mean T2 value (192.1 +/- 34.8 msec) than did both benign liver cell tumors (71.9 +/- 16.9 msec; p less than .01) and primary or metastatic malignant tumors (79.7 +/- 21.2 msec; p less than .01), but the T2 values of benign liver cell tumors and malignant tumors were not significantly different. Both hemangiomas and benign liver cell tumors had a significantly greater mean signal-intensity ratio (1.86 +/- 0.60 and 1.77 +/- 0.26, respectively) than did malignant tumors (1.04 +/- 0.34; p less than .01) in the early phase after Gd-DTPA administration, and hemangiomas had a significantly greater signal-intensity ratio (1.59 +/- 0.21) than did both benign liver cell tumors (1.21 +/- 0.08; p less than .01) and malignant tumors (1.06 +/- 0.26; p less than .01) in the delayed phase. These results suggest that dynamic MR images obtained after administration of Gd-DTPA are useful in differentiating hepatic hemangiomas, benign liver cell tumors, and malignant liver lesions.     

Hepatic tumors: differentiation by transverse relaxation time (T2) of magnetic resonance imaging

Fifty-three patients who had hepatic tumors (24 hepatomas, ten metastases, and 19 cavernous hemangiomas) underwent MR imaging using a 0.35-T superconducting imager. The transverse relaxation time (T2) was calculated from a pair of spin echo images (repetition time [TR] of 1600 msec) with echo delay times (TE) of 35 and 70 msec. The computed T2 value was obtained in a fashion similar to that used to obtain CT numbers with region-of-interest cursors. The mean T2 was 59 +/- 9 msec in hepatomas, 64 +/- 15 msec in metastases, and 100 +/- 30 msec in hemangiomas. The difference between the T2 of hemangioma and that of liver malignancies was statistically significant (P less than .001); however, differentiation between hepatoma and metastases was not possible. The T2 was shorter than 80 msec in all 24 hepatomas and in nine of ten metastases, and was longer than 80 msec in 16 of 19 hemangiomas. Forty-nine of 53 cases (92%) were correctly classified when the borderline of T2 between hemangioma and hepatic malignancies was set at 80 msec. MR with T2 calculation was valuable in differentiating between hemangioma and hepatic malignancies.     

Noninvasive diagnosis of small cavernous hemangioma of the liver: advantage of MRI

Thirty-three lesions of small cavernous hemangioma of the liver under 3 cm in diameter detected by sonography, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were reviewed. Sonography detected 23 lesions, plain CT 15 out of 26, and MR 31, including one equivocal. On sonography, 18 of 23 revealed a strong, almost homogeneous hyperechoic mass without a rim. On CT, eight of 33 showed characteristic findings of hemangioma by contrast enhancement. On MRI, 26 of 31 appeared as a markedly high-intensity area, which was rarely the appearance of other hepatic tumors of similar size. Spin-spin relaxation time (T2) of hemangioma was prolonged over 80 msec in 15 of 18 while one of 20 lesions in patients with primary or secondary liver cancers under 3 cm showed T2 of 80 msec or more. MRI in addition to sonography and/or CT allowed detection of almost all cavernous hemangiomas over 1 cm in diameter and diagnosis with considerably high accuracy and specificity. MRI will play an important role in determination of necessity of further invasive diagnostic methods for patients with small liver tumors detected by sonography and/or CT.     

Differentiation between hemangiomas and metastases of the liver with ultrafast MR imaging: preliminary results with T2 calculations

We studied the efficacy of T2 measurements at high field strength in distinguishing between liver hemangiomas and hepatic metastases when an ultrafast (single-excitation) MR imaging technique is used. Fourteen patients with known liver tumors were imaged in a 2.0-T prototype ultrafast MR scanner with a spin-echo (infinite TR and TE of 30-340 msec) pulse sequence. Each image was obtained with a total data acquisition time of 20 msec. T2 calculations for hepatic metastases (n = 6) showed a mean of 79.3 +/- 13.5 msec, whereas hemangiomas (n = 8) showed a T2 of 139.8 +/- 18.8 msec (p less than .0001). T2 values of lesions had a smaller relative standard deviation than previously reported, and the range of T2 values of hemangiomas (119-181 msec) and metastases (68-103 msec) did not overlap. Our preliminary results suggest that T2 calculations with ultrafast MR imaging may be useful for differentiating hemangiomas from metastases. We hypothesize that T2 values obtained from ultrafast MR images are more reliable than those obtained from conventional MR images, primarily because of the elimination of T1 information and effects of motion on image signal intensity.     

Differentiation between hemangiomas and cysts of the liver with nonenhanced MR imaging: Efficacy of T2 values at 1.5 T

The authors studied the utility of non-contrast-agent-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for differentiating cysts and cavernous hemangiomas of the liver. Nineteen patients with hemangiomas (51 lesions) and 16 with cysts (30 lesions) were studied with a 1.5-T MR imager. T2 values were calculated with the two-point method to evaluate the efficacy of T2 values in the differentiation between hemangiomas and cysts of the liver. For lesions larger than 1 cm, the mean T2 value of cysts (306 msec ± 156) was significantly longer than that of hemangiomas (113 msec ± 15) (P < .0001); there was no overlap of the ranges for T2 values of hemangiomas and cysts. All cysts larger than 1 cm could be differentiated from hemangiomas by using a threshold T2 value of 140 msec. This study suggests that calculated T2 values permit differentiation between hemangiomas and cysts larger than 1 cm at 1.5 T.     

Hepatic tumors: quantitative tissue characterization with MR imaging

To determine which quantitative methods of image analysis are most suitable for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant hepatic lesions, the authors analyzed magnetic resonance images obtained at 0.6 T in 42 patients with proved hepatic cavernous hemangioma and 63 patients with various hepatic malignancies. The lesion-liver signal-intensity ratio for images obtained with a repetition time of 2,350 msec and echo time of 180 msec was most helpful in distinguishing hemangiomas from cancer (area under the receiving operator characteristic curve [ROC] = 0.99 +/- 0.005). All 38 lesions with lesion-liver signal-intensity ratios greater than 3.5 were hemangiomas, whereas all 57 hepatic tumors with a ratio less than 2.5 were malignant neoplasms. A specificity of 93% and sensitivity of 89% can be achieved with use of quantitative signal-intensity data only. The authors conclude that in conjunction with heavily T2-weighted pulse sequences, signal-intensity ratios are an important adjunct to morphologic analysis in the differential diagnosis of hepatic neoplasms.     

Hemangiomas of skeletal muscle: MR findings in five patients

Skeletal muscle hemangiomas are uncommon tumors of young adults. More than 90% are misdiagnosed preoperatively. Plain-film examinations, bone scans, CT studies, and angiography may not always be specific for this tumor. Seven MR examinations were performed in five young adult patients with pathologically proved skeletal muscle hemangiomas. All five hemangiomas showed high signal intensity on both T1- and T2-weighted images. The signal intensity in these tumors was less than that of subcutaneous fat on relatively T1-weighted images and greater than that of fat on relatively T2-weighted images. Four tumors had a serpiginous pattern. Four patients had focal muscle atrophy. Three patients had all three findings (high signal intensity on both T1- and T2-weighted images, serpiginous pattern, and associated focal muscle atrophy) while the other two patients had at least two of the three findings. These three patients did not undergo angiography or needle biopsies before surgery because the MR findings were highly suggestive of hemangioma. Our experience with this small series of patients suggests that skeletal muscle hemangiomas have a consistent appearance on MR. MR may be able to contribute significantly to the preoperative diagnosis of this tumor and may also supply valuable information about the extent of the lesion.     

Hepatic cavernous hemangioma: magnetic resonance imaging. Work in progress

Using a 0.35-T superconducting magnet and spin echo imaging, we prospectively evaluated 11 patients who had proved hepatic cavernous hemangioma. Magnetic resonance (MR) identified more lesions than either contrast-enhanced CT, or ultrasonography. The MR appearance was consistent; hemangiomas were homogeneous and generally isointense at short TR and TE intervals but were hyperintense at long TR intervals and greatly hyperintense at long TR and long TE intervals. However, the MR appearance of hemangioma was not specific; 2/14 other focal hepatic masses had similar features. The calculated relaxation times (T1, T2) were not useful in lesion characterization, although the intensity ratio of hemangioma to normal liver at the TR = 2.0 sec TE = 56 msec pulse sequence was useful in diagnosis since hemangiomas always had a ratio greater than 1.4.     

Focal hepatic lesions: differentiation with MR imaging at 0.5 T

Magnetic resonance (MR) examinations of 43 patients with 95 focal hepatic lesions (diameter, greater than 1 cm) were analyzed for lesion shape, homogeneity, and relative signal intensity compared with normal liver parenchyma, spleen, and skeletal muscle. On T1-weighted, balanced, and T2-weighted images, most metastases (74%), cavernous hemangiomas (76%), and cysts (82%) were smooth and round or oval, while the hepatocellular carcinomas all had irregular borders (40%) or were lobulated (60%). All lesions with irregular borders were malignant. Seventy percent of metastatic lesions, 85% of cavernous hemangiomas, and 100% of simple hepatic cysts were of homogeneous signal intensity, while 60% of hepatocellular carcinomas were inhomogeneous. Logistic regression analysis of multiple lesion characteristics showed that inhomogeneous lesions had a high likelihood of malignancy, while markedly hyperintense lesions had a very low probability of being malignant, regardless of other traits. Homogeneous lesions that were isointense or hyperintense compared with spleen on balanced images but were not markedly hyperintense on T2-weighted images also had a high likelihood of malignancy.     

Hepatic Cavernous Hemangioma in Cirrhotic Liver: Imaging Findings

Objective

To document the imaging findings of hepatic cavernous hemangioma detected in cirrhotic liver.

Materials and Methods

The imaging findings of 14 hepatic cavernous hemangiomas in ten patients with liver cirrhosis were retrospectively analyzed. A diagnosis of hepatic cavernous hemangioma was based on the findings of two or more of the following imaging studies: MR, including contrast-enhanced dynamic imaging (n = 10), dynamic CT (n = 4), hepatic arteriography (n = 9), and US (n = 10).

Results

The mean size of the 14 hepatic hemangiomas was 0.9 (range, 0.5-1.5) cm in the longest dimension. In 11 of these (79%), contrast-enhanced dynamic CT and MR imaging showed rapid contrast enhancement of the entire lesion during the early phase, and hepatic arteriography revealed globular enhancement and rapid filling-in. On contrast-enhanced MR images, three lesions (21%) showed partial enhancement until the 5-min delayed phases. US indicated that while three slowly enhancing lesions were homogeneously hyperechoic, 9 (82%) of 11 showing rapid enhancement were not delineated.

Conclusion

The majority of hepatic cavernous hemangiomas detected in cirrhotic liver are small in size, and in many, hepatic arteriography and/or contrast-enhanced dynamic CT and MR imaging demonstrates rapid enhancement. US, however, fails to distinguish a lesion of this kind from its cirrhotic background.     

Avascular necrosis of the femoral head: morphologic assessment by MR imaging, with CT correlation

To better understand the morphologic appearance of avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head on magnetic resonance (MR) images (1.5 T) and computed tomographic (CT) scans, the records of 21 lesions were reviewed retrospectively. All MR imaging studies included T1-weighted images (T1WI) (repetition times [TR] of 400-1,000 msec, and echo times [TE] of 20-25 msec), and 15 included T2-weighted images (T2WI) (TR = 2,000-2,500 msec; TE = 60-80 msec). MR signal features of the lesions were compared with features on the corresponding CT scans. Abnormalities in the superoanterior aspect of the femoral head were noted on both image types in all 21 lesions but were more obvious on MR images in two. A characteristic margin of peripheral sclerosis seen on CT scans in 95% (20 of 21) of lesions corresponded to a line of low intensity on MR images. Fractures complicating AVN were seen in eight lesions at CT scanning. On T1WI, fractures were not clearly delineated. On T2WI, fractures were of high intensity but were depicted less clearly than on CT scans. Central signal intensity of the lesions on T1WI correlated with the presence or absence of fracture: 88% (seven of eight) of the lesions with fractures appeared less intense than fat, compared with only 8% (one of 13) of lesions without fractures (P less than .005). While MR imaging is a sensitive method for early diagnosis of AVN, CT scanning can more accurately identify fractures and is thus important for staging.     

Magnetic resonance imaging of cavernous hemangioma of the liver: tissue-specific characterization

Twenty-one patients with hepatic hemangioma, five with hepatic cysts, and 25 with primary or metastatic cancer involving the liver were studied by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Benign lesions (hemangiomas, cysts) were diagnosed noninvasively by CT, radionuclide studies, and/or sonography and confirmed by follow-up examinations more than 1 year later. Malignant lesions were confirmed by liver biopsy in every case. Identical multisection/multiecho techniques were used in all patients to obtain T1-and T2-weighted spin-echo (SE) and inversion-recovery (IR) images. MRI detected more hemangiomas than any other imaging technique. Of 30 hemangiomas, 25 were spherical or ovoid with a homogeneous appearance and smooth, well defined margins. Cancer tended to have a heterogeneous appearance and poorly defined margins. On T2-weighted SE images obtained with 2000 msec TR and 60, 120, or 180 msec TE, hemangiomas had significantly greater contrast-to-noise ratios (C/N) than liver cancer (p less than 0.001). The SE 2000/120 sequence provided the single most useful image for distinguishing hemangiomas from cancers. When morphologic criteria are used in conjunction with measured C/N, MRI correctly distinguished cavernous hemangiomas from liver cancer with 90% sensitivity, 92% specificity, and an overall accuracy of 90%. Cysts had a low signal intensity on SE 500/30 images and could often be distinguished from hemangiomas and cancers that were nearly isointense relative to liver. IR images were sensitive for lesion detection but provided no tissue-specific information. The data indicate that T2-weighted SE imaging may become the procedure of choice for distinguishing cavernous hemangioma from liver cancer.     

MR differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma from cavernous hemangioma: complementary roles of FLASH and T2 values

Forty-two patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (hepatoma) and 18 patients with hemangioma were studied with MR imaging at 1.5 T to evaluate the efficacy of single-slice breath-hold FLASH (fast low-angle shot) images in distinguishing between the lesions and to compare with T2 differentiation using conventional spin-echo images. The difference between mean tumor-to-liver signal ratio on FLASH imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma (1.46 +/- 1.06) and hemangioma (0.86 +/- 0.45) was statistically significant (p less than .01). Fifty-one (82%) of 62 lesions were classified correctly when the borderline of tumor-to-liver signal ratio between hepatoma and hemangioma was set at 0.9. The mean T2 values of hepatomas and hemangiomas were 48 +/- 10 msec and 89 +/- 20 msec, respectively. Fifty-seven (92%) of 62 lesions were correctly diagnosed with the T2 borderline of 80 msec. The five misdiagnosed lesions with the T2 borderline were hemangiomas smaller than 2 cm with tumor-to-liver signal ratios less than 0.9. FLASH images appear promising for differentiating between hepatoma and hemangioma, and they complement T2 values in characterizing small lesions.     

Improved detection of small cavernous hemangiomas of the liver with high-resolution three-headed SPECT.

The purpose of this study was to review our experience with 99mTc-red blood cell scintigraphy for diagnosis of cavernous hemangiomas of the liver using a new three-headed, high-resolution dedicated SPECT system. Of 19 patients referred with a total of 38 lesions seen on CT, US, or MRI, 14 patients had 24 lesions that were hemangioma-positive with SPECT (all true-positives). Six of these 14 patients also had 9 hemangioma-negative lesions; all were less than or equal to 1.3 cm in size and false-negative. The remaining five patients had hemangioma-negative lesions only (1 false-negative, 4 true-negatives). Two hemangiomas were seen by SPECT that were not detected by CT, US, or MR. The sensitivity for hemangiomas greater than or equal to 1.4 cm. was 100% (20/20). The sensitivity was 33% for lesions 0.9-1.3 cm, and 20% for lesions less than or equal to 0.8 cm. The smallest hemangioma detected was 0.5 cm. These results show a definite improvement in sensitivity with high-resolution triple-headed SPECT over previously reported results using single-headed SPECT. High-resolution SPECT has improved our ability to detect small cavernous hemangiomas of the liver.     

Distinction of hepatic cavernous hemangioma from hepatic metastases with MR imaging

Twenty-four hepatic cavernous hemangiomas and 91 metastases from a variety of hypovascular and hypervascular primary neoplasms were prospectively studied with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. In addition to qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis of signal intensity ratios of lesion to normal liver was performed with images obtained with 500/28-30 (repetition time msec/echo time msec) and 2,000/28-150 sequences. Quantitative data did not improve the ability to distinguish hemangiomas from metastases in our series compared with qualitative analysis. Hypovascular metastases, such as colon carcinoma, could be differentiated from hemangioma more frequently (97.5%) than hypervascular endocrine metastases, such as islet cell tumor, carcinoid, and pheochromocytoma (61%). These findings indicate that the utility of MR imaging in differentiating hemangiomas from metastases is dependent on the histologic type of the primary neoplasm.     

Giant cavernous hemangioma of the liver: CT and MR imaging in 10 cases

Ten giant cavernous hemangiomas of the liver in eight patients were examined with both MR imaging and dynamic bolus CT. The maximal diameters of the tumors were 6.5-19 cm (mean, 10.8 cm). MR imaging was done with a 2.0-T superconducting magnet and spin-echo imaging. CT was done with single-bolus dynamic scans. On MR images, all 10 hemangiomas had a heterogeneous appearance. The main part of the tumor comprised uniform, well-defined, high-intensity areas on T2-weighted images, with increasing intensity ratios with prolongation of TR and TE. Other parts of the tumor were cleftlike and were of lower intensity than the remainder of the tumor on T1-weighted images and of higher intensity on heavily T2-weighted images. These parts corresponded to the areas of the tumor that were of lower density on dynamic bolus CT scans. Internal septa in the tumor of low intensity were also noted on all MR pulse sequences. These parts corresponded to low-density areas on delayed contrast-enhanced CT. Familiarity with the characteristics of the internal architecture of giant cavernous hemangiomas on MR imaging or dynamic bolus CT might be useful in making the correct diagnosis of this tumor.     

颅内海绵状血管瘤的CT和MRI诊断

目的 探讨CT和MRI对颅内海绵状血管瘤的表现和诊断价值。资料与方法 经手术病理证实的颅内海绵状血管瘤22例,其中脑内型海绵状血管瘤21例,脑外型海绵状血管瘤1例。10例行CT检查,16例行MRI检查,13例行MRA检查。结果 脑内型海绵状血管瘤可位于脑内任何部位,单发病灶多见,周围无或轻度水肿,无明显占位效应。CT平扫为稍高密度影,钙化占72．7％,增强扫描大都无强化;MR T1WI表现为桑葚状混杂高信号．周围有云絮状低信号环,增强后病灶大都无强化;MRA检查未见异常血管。脑外型病灶位于中颅窝、鞍旁,MRI呈类似哑铃形较均匀的稍长T1、长T2信号,增强扫描见明显均匀强化．MRA检查未见异常血管。结论 脑内型海绵状血管瘤的MRI表现较有特异性,结合CT和MRA可明确诊断;脑外型者易误诊,对CT和MRI表现类似的中颅窝脑膜瘤,应考虑到本病的可能。     

不典型颅内海绵状血管瘤的CT、MRI诊断初探

目的 探讨颅内海绵状血管瘤(ICA)的CT和MRI不典型表现.资料与方法 回顾性分析经手术病理证实的不典型ICA9例,男5例,女4例,年龄11～72岁,平均35岁.所有病例均行MRI平扫及增强检查,其中4例行CT扫描.结果 9例均位于脑内.病灶最大径平均值5.5cm.行CT检查的4例中,2例表现为等、高密度,2例表现为等、低密度;3例病灶内可见钙化.9例T1WI和T2WI呈混杂信号,周围低信号环4例,囊实性病灶5例,囊内见液平面3例,其中囊变伴附壁结节4例,6例出现明显灶周水肿.增强扫描8例呈明显不均匀强化,1例无明显强化.结论 发现瘤体巨大伴有囊性变、瘤体占位效应、病变多种形式的强化等ICA不典型的CT和MRI征象时,应考虑ICA的诊断.     

Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings of Nasal Cavity Hemangiomas According to Histological Type

Objective

To compare computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings between two histological types of nasal hemangiomas (cavernous hemangioma and capillary or lobular capillary hemangioma).

Materials and Methods

CT (n = 20; six pre-contrast; 20 post-enhancement) and MRI (n = 7) images from 23 patients (16 men and seven women; mean age, 43 years; range, 13-73 years) with a pathologically diagnosed nasal cavity hemangioma (17 capillary and lobular capillary hemangiomas and six cavernous hemangiomas) were reviewed, focusing on lesion location, size, origin, contour, enhancement pattern, attenuation or signal intensity (SI), and bony changes.

Results

The 17 capillary and lobular hemangiomas averaged 13 mm (range, 4-37 mm) in size, and most (n = 13) were round. Fourteen capillary hemangiomas had marked or moderate early phase enhancement on CT, which dissipated during the delayed phase. Four capillary hemangiomas on MRI showed marked enhancement. Bony changes were usually not seen on CT or MRI (seen on five cases, 29.4%). Half of the lesions (2/4) had low SI on T1-weighted MRI images and heterogeneously high SI with signal voids on T2-weighted images. The six cavernous hemangiomas were larger than the capillary type (mean, 20.5 mm; range, 10-39 mm) and most had lobulating contours (n = 4), with characteristic enhancement patterns (three centripetal and three multifocal nodular), bony remodeling (n = 4, 66.7%), and mild to moderate heterogeneous enhancement during the early and delayed phases.

Conclusion

CT and MRI findings are different between the two histological types of nasal hemangiomas, particularly in the enhancement pattern and size, which can assist in preoperative diagnosis and planning of surgical tumor excision.     

Radiation fibrosis: differentiation from recurrent tumor by MR imaging

Magnetic resonance (MR) images of 21 patients who had undergone radiation therapy were analyzed and compared with those of 15 patients who had untreated tumors. T2-weighted images (TR = 1,500 msec, TE = 90 msec) were most helpful in distinguishing recurrent tumor from radiation fibrosis. Radiation fibrosis, like muscle, usually remained low in signal intensity on T2-weighted images, while tumor demonstrated higher signal intensity. In no patient was the signal intensity of tumor the same or less than muscle on the T2-weighted images. However, relatively high signal intensity on T2-weighted images is not specific for tumor recurrence and may be seen in acute radiation pneumonitis, infection, hemorrhage, and even pulmonary radiation fibrosis.