Purpose
The aim of our experience was to evaluate the value of gadoxetic acid enhanced hepatobiliary phase imaging and high b-value DWI in the differential diagnosis between benign to malignant liver lesions using a 1,5 T magnet unit.
Methods and Materials
Were studied twenty-four malignant liver lesions (fourteen small HCC and ten metastatic lesions) and twelve benign lesions (five FNH,
four adenomas and three regenerative nodules in cirrhotic liver).
A retrospective evaluation was made.
The qualitative analysis was obtained by the evaluation of two radiologist of the lesions’s signal intensity compared with that of the surrounding liver parenchyma on hepatobiliary phase images and DWI (b-value=600s/mm2).
The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and relative contrast enhancement of lesions on hepatobiliary phase images and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values...
Results
qualitative/quantitative analysis.
19 (79%) malignant lesions (fig.
1b) and 4 (28%) benign lesions were ipointense in hepatobiliary phase ;
5 (21%) malignant lesions and 10 (71%) benign lesions (fig.
2b) were iso/hyperintense in hepatobiliary phase.
17 (71%) malignant lesions (fig.
1a) and 3 (21%) benign lesions shown high signal in DWI (with high b-factor).
7 (29%) malignant lesions and 11 (78%) benign lesions (fig 2a) were iso/hypointense in DWI.
Conclusion
Hypointensity on gadoxetic acid-enhanced hepatobiliary phase images and hyperintensity on DWI (b-factor=600 s/mm2) suggest malignant lesions rather than benign hepatocellular nodules.
References
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Kim MJ,
Chung YE,
Kim YE,
Park MS,
Choi JY,
Kim KW. Comparison ofgadoxeticacid-enhanceddynamic imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging for the preoperative evaluation of colorectal liver metastases.
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2) Kim AY,
Kim YK,
Lee MW,
Park MJ,
Hwang J,
Lee MH,
Lee JW. Detection of hepatocellular carcinoma ingadoxeticacid-enhancedMRI and diffusion-weighted MRI with respect to the severity of liver cirrhosis.Acta Radiol.
2012 Oct 1;53(8):830-8.
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3) Kim MJ,...
Personal Information
Pier Paolo Arcuri,
radiologist to Pugliese-Ciaccio Hospital,
via Pio X,
88100 Catanzaro.
[email protected]