Comparison of dynamic gadolinium-enhanced and ferumoxides-enhanced MRI of the liver on high- and low-field scanners

PURPOSE: To compare the performance of dynamic gadolinium-enhanced and ferumoxides-enhanced MRI in the detection and characterization of hepatic lesions, on 1.5-T and 0.2-T magnets MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 41 patients (23 men, 18 women), 52 hepatic MR examinations were performed and retrospectively analyzed; 39 and 13 examinations were performed on 1.5-T and 0.2-T magnets, respectively. A total of 33 of 41 patients had known malignancies, and 31 of 33 patients had biopsy of at least one lesion. First, a combination of unenhanced T2-weighted sequences and gradient-echo T1-weighted sequences were performed. Then, dynamic gadolinium-enhanced (0.1 mmol/kg) T1 GRE sequences were obtained, followed by intravenous drip infusion of ferumoxides (10 micromol/kg). The T2-weighted sequences were then repeated. The unenhanced and gadolinium-enhanced images (the Gd set) were reviewed separately from the unenhanced and ferumoxides-enhanced images (the ferumoxides set) by two abdominal imagers. The reviewers were blinded to clinical history and reviewed the individual studies in each set randomly. Each detected lesion was scored on a five-point scale for characterization scores: nonsolid (1 or 2), indeterminate (3), or solid (4 or 5). A consensus review was then performed correlating all available pathology, imaging, clinical findings, and follow-up to act as a gold standard. Receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) curves were generated and both area-under-the-curve (Az values) and sensitivity values were calculated. Significance of Az and sensitivity differences was assessed using standard Z-test and chi-square. RESULTS: Of 270 lesions detected by consensus, 211 were on 1.5-T and 59 were on 0.2-T scanners. The accuracy (Az values) of lesion detection overall, of both readers, was greater for the ferumoxides set than for the Gd set (reader 1: 0.95 vs. 0.89 (P < 0.05); reader 2: 0.91 vs. 0.78 (P < 0.05)). Az values for both readers were greater on the ferumoxides set for both the 1.5-T scans and the 0.2-T scans. Out of 270 lesions detected, 231 were characterized by consensus review as solid (185) or nonsolid (46). There was a significant improvement in lesion characterization for both readers on the GD set compared with the ferumoxides set on both high and low field scanners (Az reader 1: 0.99 vs. 0.96 (P < 0.05); Az reader 2: 0.99 vs. 0.95 (P < 0.05)), respectively. CONCLUSION: At both 1.5-T and 0.2-T, ferumoxides-enhanced sequences were better for lesion detection, while gadolinium-enhanced sequences were better for lesion characterization, respectively.     

Value of delayed hypointensity and delayed enhancing rim in magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis of small hepatocellular carcinoma in the cirrhotic liver

Purpose:

To determine the diagnostic utility of delayed hypointensity and delayed enhancing rim on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as indicators of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in arterially enhancing nodules ≤5 cm in the cirrhotic liver and determine the features that best predict HCC.

Materials and Methods:

Gadolinium‐enhanced MRI studies performed from January 2001 to December 2004 in patients with cirrhosis were evaluated for arterially enhancing nodules measuring ≤5 cm. Verification was via explant correlation, biopsy, or imaging follow‐up. Sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic features of HCC were calculated. Features predictive of HCC were determined using the Generalized Estimating Equation approach.

Results:

In all, 116 arterially enhancing nodules were identified in 80 patients (<2 cm: n = 79, 2–5 cm n = 37). Sensitivity and specificity of delayed hypointensity for HCC measuring ≤5 cm, 2–5 cm, and <2 cm were 0.54 (40 of 74) and 0.86 (36 of 42); 0.72 (23 of 32) and 0.80 (4 of 5); and 0.41 (17 of 42) and 0.87 (32 of 37). For the delayed enhancing rim sensitivity and specificity were 0.64 (47 of 74) and 0.86 (36 of 42); 0.75 (24 of 32) and 1.0 (5 of 5); and 0.55 (23 of 42) and 0.83 (31 of 37), respectively. Lesion size (≥2 cm) and delayed enhancing rim, as main features and their interaction, were the most significant predictors of HCC.

Conclusion:

Delayed hypointensity and enhancing rim improve the specificity of diagnosis of HCC of all sizes but are seen less frequently in small (<2 cm) HCC. Nodule size (≥2 cm) and delayed enhancing rim are the strongest predictors of HCC. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2010;32:360–366. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Early-enhancing nonneoplastic lesions on gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the liver following partial hepatectomy

PURPOSE: To assess the frequency, imaging findings, and significance of early-enhancing nonneoplastic (EN) lesions with gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liver following partial hepatectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed MR images after partial hepatectomy in 30 patients. Postoperative MRI was performed in 1-12 months (mean, 3.7 months) after partial hepatectomy. We defined the EN lesion as a lesion that was ill defined; irregular, wedge shaped, or serpiginous; located along the liver edge; not visible on unenhanced MR images; did not appear hypointense on portal venous- or equilibrium-phase images; or a combination of those imaging findings. RESULTS: A total of 39 EN lesions (size range, 5-60 mm; mean, 25.2 mm) in 19 patients and 17 recurrent tumors (size range, 5-50 mm; mean, 16.8 mm) in 10 patients newly appeared after partial hepatectomy. The EN lesions were diagnosed as pseudolesions by the second postoperative follow-up MRI in 17 patients or contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) in two. A total of 13 EN lesions (33%) were located along the liver edge and 20 (51%) were adjacent to the resected area. The shape was circular in 11 (28%), oval in three (8%), irregular in 11 (28%), wedge shaped in five (13%), and serpiginous in nine (23%). No EN lesion showed hypointensity on gadolinium-enhanced portal venous-phase or equilibrium-phase images. A total of 14 EN lesions (36%) showed slight hyperintensity on T2-weighted images. The confidence levels for malignancy probability assigned by blinded radiologists were lower with EN lesions than with recurrent tumors (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: EN lesions are frequently seen in MRI following partial hepatectomy, and occasionally are slightly hyperintense on T2-weighted images, mimicking malignant tumors. However, most EN lesions can be correctly diagnosed with MRI findings.     

Additional value of gadoxetic acid-DTPA-enhanced hepatobiliary phase MR imaging in the diagnosis of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: comparison with dynamic triple-phase multidetector CT imaging

Purpose:

To assess the value of hepatobiliary phase gadoxetic acid (EOB)‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis of early stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (<3 cm) compared to triple‐phase dynamic multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).

Materials and Methods:

In all, 52 patients with 60 pathologically proven HCCs underwent both EOB‐enhanced MRI and triple‐phase dynamic MDCT. Two radiologists independently and blindly reviewed three image sets: 1) MDCT, 2) dynamic MRI (unenhanced and EOB‐enhanced dynamic MR images), and 3) combined MRI (dynamic MRI + hepatobiliary phase images) using a five‐point rating scale on a lesion‐by‐lesion basis. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was performed, and sensitivity and specificity were calculated.

Results:

The area under the ROC curve (Az) of dynamic MRI was equivalent to that of MDCT for both readers. For both readers, Az and sensitivity of combined MRI for smaller lesions (<1.5 cm) were significantly higher than that of dynamic MRI and MDCT (P < 0.0166). The majority of false‐negative nodules on dynamic MRI or MDCT (75% and 62%, respectively) were due to a lack of identified washout findings.

Conclusion:

Hepatobiliary phase images can increase the value of EOB‐enhanced MRI in the diagnosis of early stage HCC. The sensitivity and accuracy were significantly superior to MDCT for the diagnosis of lesions less than 1.5 cm. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Added value of diffusion‐weighted imaging in the MRI assessment of perilesional tumor recurrence after chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinomas

Purpose

To investigate the additional value of diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) in the MRI assessment of perilesionally recurrent hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Materials and Methods

For gadopentetate dimeglumine‐enhanced multiphasic dynamic images with precontrast T1‐ and T2‐weighted images of 23 patients treated with TACE, two radiologists independently sorted the confidence levels for the presence of a viable tumor in the vicinity of the treated lesions into five grades. In another session, images from DWI (b factor = 50, 400, and 800 s/mm²) were added to the previously reviewed images and the same radiologists sorted the confidence levels.

Results

A total of 26 lesions (0.7–3.5 cm) from 16 patients were confirmed to be perilesional recurrences of HCC. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (A_z) for the second interpretation session (0.826) was not significantly different (P = 0.299) from that of the first session (0.859). The overall sensitivity was increased from 85% to 92%, but the specificity decreased from 65% to 50% after adding DWI.

Conclusion

The addition of DWI has the potential to improve sensitivity, but not the overall diagnostic accuracy, in the assessment of perilesional recurrence of HCCs after chemoembolization. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:153–160. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Detection of hepatocellular carcinoma: comparison of ferumoxides-enhanced and gadolinium-enhanced dynamic three-dimensional volume interpolated breath-hold MR imaging

The purpose was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of ferumoxides-enhanced MR imaging and gadolinium-enhanced dynamic MR imaging using three-dimensional (3D) volume interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) for the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Forty-nine patients with 61 HCCs, who underwent ferumoxides-enhanced and gadolinium-enhanced dynamic MR imaging, were included prospectively in this study. Ferumoxides-enhanced MR imaging was performed 24 h after completion of the dynamic study using 3D-VIBE. Three radiologists independently interpreted the images. The diagnostic accuracy was evaluated using the receiver-operating characteristic method, and the sensitivity of each imaging technique was compared using McNemars test. The mean diagnostic accuracy of dynamic MR imaging (Az=0.95) was higher than that of ferumoxides-enhanced MR imaging (Az=0.90), but failed to reach a statistical significance (P=0.057). The mean sensitivity of dynamic MR imaging (90.7%) was significantly superior to that of ferumoxides-enhanced MR imaging (80.9%, P=0.03). Furthermore, for lesions smaller than 15 mm, the mean sensitivity of dynamic MR imaging was significantly higher than that of ferumoxides-enhanced MR imaging (85.2% vs. 69.2%, P<0.05). Dynamic MR imaging showed a trend toward better diagnostic accuracy for than ferumoxides-enhanced MR imaging for the detection of HCCs.     

Wash-in kinetics for gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of carotid atheroma

PURPOSE: To determine the wash-in kinetics of intravenous gadolinium into the fibrous cap and lipid core of carotid atheroma, and identify the time following gadolinium administration that maximizes contrast between the cap and core. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven subjects with carotid artery stenosis were studied. Magnetic resonance (MR) images of the atheroma were acquired using a single-inversion-recovery fast-spin-echo (IR FSE) sequence, which was serially repeated during the first 30 minutes following intravenous gadolinium administration. Postcontrast time was divided into three intervals: <10, 11-20, and >21 minutes. Adjusted signal intensity (SI), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) values for postcontrast images were compared to adjusted precontrast values. RESULTS: The mean SNRs of the cap and core were significantly elevated in each postcontrast interval compared with mean precontrast values. The CNRs of the cap vs. the core increased by 19.8% (3.03 to 4.14, P = 0.03) in the first 10 minutes following gadolinium administration, and remained elevated over the next two intervals with a slight decrease in the final interval. CONCLUSION: Increased signal and contrast between the cap and core can be achieved by imaging up to 30 minutes following gadolinium administration, with peak enhancement occurring in the first 10 minutes.     

Hepatocellular carcinoma treated with radio frequency ablation: an early evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging

PURPOSE: To determine the usefulness of nonenhanced T1-weighted spoiled gradient-recalled acquisition in the steady-state (SPGR) MRI in the early assessment of the efficacy of radio frequency (RF) therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 23 patients with 28 HCC nodules treated with percutaneous RF ablation underwent nonenhanced MRI within two days after the RF procedure and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) one week after. MR assessment of ablation efficacy according to the concentric zonal pattern on T1-weighted SPGR imaging was compared with the one-week CT and presence of local recurrence by means of follow-up study for 12 months or more. RESULTS: In 18 of 28 ablated nodules, SPGR images revealed a central hyperintense zone covering the entire tumor, CT showed a nonenhanced area covering the entire tumor, and no local recurrence was demonstrated in the follow-up studies. In nine of 28 nodules, the central hyperintense zone did not cover the entire tumor; and local recurrence was demonstrated in three nodules. In the remaining one nodule, no signal change was seen in the treated area on SPGR images and CT showed the presence of residual viable tumor. CONCLUSION: Nonenhanced T1-weighted MRI was considered useful for early assessment of the efficacy of RF therapy for HCC.     

Double arterial phase dynamic MRI with sensitivity encoding (SENSE) for hypervascular hepatocellular carcinomas

PURPOSE: To investigate the efficacy of SENSE MRI, including the double arterial phase dynamic study, to detect hypervascular hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRI of the liver was performed in 40 consecutive patients (20 by conventional MRI and 20 by SENSE MRI). The SENSE technique was used to obtain breath-hold T1-weighted FSE images (TR/TE = 556/12 msec), respiratory-triggered T2-weighted FSE images (TR/TE = 1800/90 msec) with and without fat suppression, and dynamic MR images (TR/TE/FA = 160-168/4.6 msec/70 degrees ). In each arterial dominant phase and portal dominant phase, two scans were consecutively performed with one breath-hold, leading to the double arterial phase and double portal phase images with SENSE. RESULTS: The sensitivity of SENSE MRI for HCCs diagnosed from all MR images, including dynamic study, T1-weighted images, and T2-weighted images, was 91.7%, while that of conventional MRI was 76.3%. The positive predictive value of SENSE MRI for HCCs was 91.7%, while that of conventional MRI was 87.9%. In terms of HCCs < or = 10 mm, the sensitivity and positive predictive values of SENSE MRI were 78.6% and 78.6%, respectively, while those of conventional MRI were 27.3% and 60.0%, respectively. The number of detected HCCs < or = 10 mm was significantly larger in SENSE MRI than in conventional MRI (P < 0.05). The cause of false-positive lesions on SENSE MR images was an arterioportal shunt. CONCLUSION: SENSE MRI with double arterial phase dynamic study showed higher sensitivity compared to the conventional technique. Therefore, SENSE MRI is a promising method for the detection of HCC.     

Role of magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging in evaluating response after chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective

To investigate the value of hepatocellular carcinoma pretreatment apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) and its ADCs changes after treatment in predicting and early monitoring the response after chemoembolization.

Materials and methods

Twenty-five responding and nine nonresponding hepatocellular carcinoma lesions were prospectively evaluated with magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging in 24 h before and in 48 h after chemoembolization. Quantitative ADC maps were calculated with images with b values of 0 and 500 s/mm².

Results

Nonresponding lesions had a significantly higher pretreatment mean ADC than did responding lesions (1.726 ± 0.323 × 10⁻³ mm²/s vs.1.294 ± 0.185 10⁻³ mm²/s, P ≤ 0.001). The results of receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis for identification of nonresponding lesions showed that threshold ADC value of 1.618 × 10⁻³ mm²/s had 96.0% sensitivity and 77.8% specificity. After transarterial chemoembolization, responding lesions had a significant increase in %ADC values than did nonresponding lesions (32.63% vs. 5.24%, P = 0.025). The results of ROC analysis for identification of responding lesions showed that threshold %ADC value of 16.21% had 72% sensitivity and 100% specificity. No significant change was observed in normal liver parenchyma (P = 0.862) and spleen (P = 0.052).

Conclusion

High pretreatment mean ADC value of hepatocellular carcinoma was predictive of poor response to chemoembolization. A significant increase in %ADC value was observed in lesions that responded to chemoembolization.     

Assessment of right ventricular function by 16-detector-row CT: comparison with magnetic resonance imaging

The purpose of this study was to determine right ventricular (RV) function from 16-detector-row CT by using two different software tools in comparison with MRI. Nineteen patients underwent cardiac CT. (1) With semiautomated contour detection software end-diastolic and end-systolic RV volumes were determined from short-axis CT reformations (MPR) created at every 10% of the RR-interval. (2) End-systolic and end-diastolic axial images were transformed to 3D to determine the volumes by using a threshold-supported reconstruction algorithm. Steady-state free-precession cine-MRI of the heart was done in short-axis orientation. RV function could not be analyzed in one patient because of sternal wire artifacts in MRI. Mean end-diastolic (155.4±54.6 ml) and end-systolic (79.1±37.0 ml) RV volumes determined with MPR correlated well with MRI [151.9±53.7 ml (r=0.98) and 75.0±36.0 ml (r=0.96), respectively (P<0.001)]. RV stroke volume (76.2±20.2 ml for MPR-CT, 76.9±20.7 ml for MRI, r=0.93) showed a good correlation and RV ejection fraction (50.8±8.4% for MPR-CT, 51.9±7.4% for MRI, r=0.74) only a moderate one. Threshold supported 3D reconstructions revealed insufficient correlations with MRI (r=0.31–0.59). MPR-based semiautomated analysis of cardiac 16 detector-row CT allows for RV functional analysis. The results correlate well with MRI findings. Threshold value-supported 3D reconstructions did not show satisfying results because of inhomogeneities of RV contrast enhancement.This paper contains parts of the doctoral thesis of Cand. Med. P. Bender.     

Small bowel motility assessment with magnetic resonance imaging

PURPOSE: To assess primarily the feasibility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a tool to monitor small bowel peristaltic motion and secondarily to validate this technique by demonstrating drug-induced motility changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After a standardized oral preparation of Ispaghula husk (Metamucil) and meglumine gadoterate (Gd-DOTA; Dotarem), 10 volunteers underwent dynamic MRI using a two-dimensional turbofast field echo (TFE) sequence with a slice repetition time of 500 msec. Intraluminal cross-sectional caliber changes over time were assessed allowing quantification of the peristaltic frequencies and amplitudes of the small gut on various regions of interest. Pharmacologically induced alterations of the peristaltic motion after spasmolytics and gastrokinetic motion enhancers were investigated. RESULTS: Small bowel diameter measurement resulted in a peristalsis of 10.96 (SD = +/-2.51) waves per minute, oscillating regularly with mean amplitudes of 6.65 mm (SD = +/-1.15 mm). Peristaltic frequency in normal individuals is consistent with that observed with other techniques. Intravenous administration of scopolamine butylbromide (= hyoscine butylbromide/Buscopan) resulted in small bowel paralysis within 21.3 seconds (SD = +/-2.8 seconds). Prokinetic effect of intravenous metoclopramide (Paspertin) after Buscopan paralysis was tested in one volunteer, characterized by a slow recovery of peristalsis, which propagated from the proximal to the distal segments and enhanced contraction amplitudes. CONCLUSION: Dynamic MRI allows observing and quantifying small bowel peristalsis, characterizing motion patterns, and monitoring the effects of interfering factors such as drugs.     

MnDPDP enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of focal liver lesions

Mangafodipir trisodium (MnDPDP) is a contrast agent for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liver. The agent is taken up by normal hepatocytes resulting in increased signal on T1-weighted imaging, and is excreted in the biliary system. Hepatocyte-containing liver neoplasms such as hepatomas or focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH), take up MnDPDP and demonstrate varying degrees of enhancement. Metastatic liver deposits and primary liver tumours of non-hepatocyte origin do not typically enhance with MnDPDP thus increasing their conspicuity compared with pre-contrast T1-weighted images. Metastases may demonstrate rim enhancement particularly on delayed imaging at 24 h, which can increase their conspicuity, thus allowing better visualization of small lesions. Functional biliary obstruction due to liver metastases can also result in wedge shaped areas of parenchymal enhancement.The MRI features of various focal liver after continuance with lesions following MnDPDP are discussed and illustrated including primary lesions such as hepatoma and secondary metastases.     

Early heterogeneous enhancement of the liver: magnetic resonance imaging findings and clinical significance

PURPOSE: To investigate and assess the radiologic, serological, and histopathologic findings in patients who presented with early heterogeneous enhancement (EHE) on gadolinium-enhanced early-phase magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched our radiologic records of MRI of the liver from July 1999 to April 2002 to identify patients with EHE. Three investigators retrospectively evaluated in consensus the MR images in each patient for intensity and characteristic of EHE blinded to clinical information. Serological laboratory values and clinical information were obtained in all patients, and histologic findings were available in 19. RESULTS: We identified 67 patients with EHE. Of them, 62 patients (93%) had underlying chronic liver disease. Twenty-seven patients had viral hepatitis, 13 had alcohol abuse, 6 had primary sclerosing cholangitis, and the others had miscellaneous etiologies. The five patients without chronic liver disease had the following clinical histories: concurrent chemotherapy for extrahepatic malignancy (two patients), concurrent intraabdominal infection (one), and no known associated disease (two). Intensity of EHE was intense in 6 (9%), moderate in 22 (33%), and mild in 39 (58%). Pattern of EHE was geographic in 15 patients (22%), patchy in 37 (55%), and miliary in 15 (22%). All EHE showed rapid fading on postcontrast late-phase images. EHE showed mild to moderate hyperintensity on T2-weighted images in 30 patients (45%). In the 19 patients with histological correlation, 19 (100%) had hepatocellular necrosis, 19 (100%) had fibrosis, 18 (95%) had inflammatory cell infiltration, 17 (89%) had capillary-size vessels within fibrous septa, and 16 (84%) had ductal proliferation. No statistical correlation was found between the intensity or pattern of EHE on MR images and the extent of elevation of serological laboratory values or severity of histologic findings. CONCLUSION: Several different types of underlying chronic liver disease were observed in most of the patients with EHE. Hepatocyte necrosis, fibrosis, or inflammatory processes were found in all patients with EHE who had histopathological correlation.     

MRI findings of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation: preliminary results

Purpose

To describe the patterns of recurrence and serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after liver transplantation.

Materials and Methods

All cases of recurrent HCC after transplantation between September 2002 and August 2009 that underwent MRI including precontrast T1, T2‐weighted images, and postgadolinium dynamic images were reviewed. On MRI we evaluated the characteristics and patterns of recurrent HCC after transplantation.

Results

A total 7 of 76 transplanted patients (four men, three women, age range, 45–63, mean 52.7 years) were included in this study. Four patients (57.1%) were identified to have a pattern of persistent local disease (PLD) near the transplanted liver, hepatorenal space, or suture site within 2.75 years (range, 2–4 years). Two patients showed recurrent HCC in the allograft alone within 5 years. One patient showed an intraperitoneal seeding (IPS) pattern which demonstrated diffuse peritoneal infiltration and thickening within 9 months. The diffuse metastatic disease (DMD) pattern was observed as a late manifestation of PLD and IPS. The most prominent volume of recurrent tumor burden was found in an extrahepatic (5 of 7 patients) compared to an intrahepatic (2 of 7 patients) location. The signal intensities and enhancement patterns did not exhibit change with disease progression.

Conclusion

We describe four patterns of recurrence of HCC following transplant. The most prominent tumor burden was located in an extrahepatic compared to an intrahepatic location. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;33:1399–1405. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of focal hepatic nodules in an experimental hepatocellular carcinoma rat model

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: We sought to investigate the value of diffusion-weighted MR imaging in evaluating focal hepatic nodules in an experimental hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) rat model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty rats with chemically induced primary hepatic nodules ranging pathologically from regenerative nodules (RNs) to dysplastic nodules (DNs) to HCC were examined with diffusion-weighted imaging. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of hepatic nodular lesions were calculated. Tukey's HSD post hoc test was used to compare the difference in ADC values between different hepatic nodular lesions. RESULTS: Eight RNs, 16 DNs, 7 well-differentiated HCCs (HCCwell), 11 moderately differentiated HCCs (HCCmod), and 14 poorly differentiated HCCs (HCCpoor) were evaluated. There was no significant difference between RNs and DNs (P > 0.05). Although the ADC values of HCCwell were slightly lower than those of DNs, there was no significant difference between them (P > 0.05). The ADC values of HCCmod and HCCpoor were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of other nodules, and no significant difference was seen between HCCmod and HCCpoor (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging can be useful in characterizing focal hepatic nodular lesions, but ADC values cannot be used efficiently to distinguish HCCwell from DNs.     

Intraindividual comparison of contrast-enhanced electron-beam computed tomography and navigator-echo-based magnetic resonance imaging for noninvasive coronary artery angiography

The aim of this study was to compare contrast-enhanced electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT) and navigator-echo-based MRI of the coronary arteries in the same patient population. Both methods were assessed for visualization of the coronary arteries and their diagnostic accuracy in identifying significant coronary artery stenoses compared with conventional coronary angiography. Twenty patients with known coronary artery disease were examined with both contrast-enhanced EBCT and a respiratory-gated MRI sequence. A grading system was used to evaluate the image quality. Sensitivity and specificity for the detection of significant coronary artery stenoses was evaluated compared with conventional coronary angiography. With EBCT, 89% of the main coronary arteries could be completely visualised in the proximal and middle segments; with MRI, 83% were visualised. With EBCT the sensitivities for identifying significant (>/=50%) stenoses in proximal and middle vessel segments were 75% in the main stem, 88% in the left anterior descending coronary artery, 75% in the left circumflex coronary artery, and 90% in the right coronary artery. Respective sensitivities for MRI angiograms were 75, 82, 75 and 80%. With both modalities a sufficient image quality of the main coronary arteries can be obtained in most cases. The diagnostic capability for detecting significant stenoses is comparable for both methods.     

双源CT单能量成像对肝癌检出影响的初步研究

目的 探索显示肝癌病灶对比噪声比(CNR)和图像质量的最佳keV条件,并与融合能量图像比较,探讨能谱CT单能量成像对肝癌检出的影响.方法 回顾性分析经双源CT双能量双期扫描的30例肝癌患者影像学表现.采用双源分析软件处理产生单能量(40～140 keV,间隔10 keV)图像,测定单能量图像、100 keV和140 keV图像中病灶的CNR和图像噪声.优化单能量图像中检测肝癌的最佳CNR值和图像噪声值.通过两相关样本的非参数秩和检验的方法对单能量图像和混合能量图像的结果进行比较.结果 动脉期图像中所有病灶的最佳CNR的单光子能量水平集中分布在70 keV,所占的比例为81.8％(27/33).图像噪声水平的最低点位于70 keV和80 keV.综合考虑图像质量和病变对比,笔者选择70 keV图像与融合图像进行比较.70 keV单能量图像的CNR与100 keV图像无显著性差异(1.68±1.04,1.88±1.59,P=0.149),>140 keV图像且有显著性差异(1.68±1.04,0.62±0.92,P=0.000).图像噪声<100 keV图像,差异有统计学意(6.52±1.53,8.55±1.11,P=0.000),与140 keV图像差异无统计学意义(6.52±1.53,7.60±2.73,P=0.050).结论 能谱CT 70 keV单能量图像可以在不降低图像质量的前提下有效提高肝癌病灶的CNR,这将有助于病灶的检出.