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“Cystic”‐appearing soft tissue masses: What is the role of anatomic, functional, and metabolic MR imaging techniques in their characterization?
Author(s) -
Thawait Gaurav K.,
Subhawong Ty K.,
Tatizawa Shiga Ney Yoichi,
Fayad Laura M.
Publication year - 2014
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/jmri.24314
Subject(s) - soft tissue , characterization (materials science) , in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy , diffusion mri , functional imaging , contrast (vision) , medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , radiology , computer science , materials science , artificial intelligence , nanotechnology
Although conventional MR imaging with contrast‐enhanced T1‐weighted sequences is of paramount importance for evaluating soft tissue masses, noncontrast MR sequences have emerged that facilitate their characterization. In this article, the utility and pitfalls of conventional MR imaging with T1‐weighted, fluid‐sensitive, and contrast‐enhanced sequences will be discussed, along with that of functional (diffusion weighted imaging) and metabolic (proton MR spectroscopy) non–contrast‐enhanced techniques for the purpose of soft tissue mass characterization. In particular, we discuss the application of these techniques to differentiating neoplastic or inflammatory masses that have high fluid content from benign cysts, as this distinction is a common pitfall of conventional sequences. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2014;39:504–511 . © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc .