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MR imaging of hypervascular liver tumors: Timing optimization during the arterial phase
Author(s) -
Van Beers Bernard E.,
Materne Roland,
Lacrosse Marc,
Jamart Jacques,
Smith Anne M.,
Horsmans Yves,
Gigot JeanFrançois,
Gilon Raphaël,
Pringot Jacques
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1522-2586(199904)9:4<562::aid-jmri9>3.0.co;2-x
Subject(s) - medicine , aorta , magnetic resonance imaging , nuclear medicine , contrast enhancement , liver tumor , radiology , hepatocellular carcinoma
To analyze the optimal timing strategy for the detection of hypervascular liver tumors during the arterial phase of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, a test examination after injection of 2 mL of gadopentetate dimeglumine was performed in 47 patients. The time course of the tumor‐to‐liver contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) for all studies together was determined relative to the start of injection, the time of peak aortic enhancement, and the time of peak enhancement in the tumor. All studies were grouped together and the highest CNR was transiently observed at the time of peak tumor enhancement. This CNR was significantly higher than those observed at fixed delays after peak aortic enhancement. However, the CNRs at peak tumor enhancement ±1.5 seconds did not differ significantly from those obtained after peak aortic enhancement. Finally, the CNRs obtained at fixed delays after the start of injection remained significantly lower. In hypervascular liver tumors, a higher CNR can be obtained during the arterial phase when the MR imaging delay is determined relative to the time of peak enhancement in the tumor or the aorta rather than being fixed after the start of contrast material injection. Timing based on the enhancement profile in the tumor rather than in the aorta should be performed only if rapid MR imaging is available with a time resolution of about 1.5 seconds to image the whole liver.J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 1999;9:562–567. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.