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Delayed MR imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma enhanced by gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd‐BOPTA)
Author(s) -
Manfredi Riccardo,
Maresca Giulia,
Baron Richard L.,
Cotroneo Antonio R.,
De Gaetano Anna Maria,
De Franco Antonio,
Pirovano Giampaolo,
Spinazzi Alberto,
Marano Pasquale
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(199905)9:5<704::aid-jmri13>3.0.co;2-z
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatocellular carcinoma , magnetic resonance imaging , contrast to noise ratio , nuclear medicine , liver parenchyma , radiology , carcinoma , parenchyma , pathology , image quality , artificial intelligence , computer science , image (mathematics)
The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd‐BOPTA)‐enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma HCC. MR images were obtained in 14 patients with 31 HCC nodules as a part of a phase III clinical trial. T1‐ and T2‐weighted images were obtained before and after iv administration of 0.1 mmol/kg of Gd‐BOPTA. Two blinded readers evaluated pre‐ and delayed postcontrast images separately for detection of tumor nodules. Quantitative measurements of signal‐to‐noise (SNR) and tumor/liver contrast‐to‐noise (CNR) ratios were also performed. A signal/intensity ratio was calculated. Tumor enhancement was correlated with histologic findings. Consensus agreement of precontrast T1‐ and T2‐weighted images revealed 23/31 HCC nodules in 14 patients; postcontrast T1‐weighted images demonstrated 24/31 HCC nodules in the same number of patients. Combining both pre‐ and postcontrast images, 27/31 lesions were detected. Four patients had four well‐differentiated HCC nodules detected only on postcontrast images, while three well‐differentiated lesions in two patients were only seen on precontrast images. Quantitative evaluation showed an SNR ratio increase in both liver parenchyma and HCC nodules, as well as a significant increase in the absolute CNR ratio on postcontrast T1‐weighted gradient‐recalled images ( P < 0.05). Well‐differentiated HCC lesions showed a greater enhancement than poorly differentiated HCC lesions. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 1999;9:704–710. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.