Search

Objective: To determine the differences in enhancement of hepatocellular carcinoma during the first 5 minutes of postcontrast phases with gadoxetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) vs gadobenate dimeglumine., Methods: Ninety-five cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were examined on a 1.5-T scanner: 74 patients with Gd-BOPTA and 21 patients with Gd-EOB-DTPA. Same magnetic resonance imaging parameters were used for both groups. Gadoxetate isodium was administered at a dose of 0.025 mmol/kg; and Gd-BOPTA, at a dose of 0.1 mmol/kg., Results: Mean contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) were similar in arterial (P = 0.3), portal venous (P = 0.1), and 5-minute delayed phases (P = 0.73). The CNRs of lesions in the Gd-EOB-DTPA group were lower in arterial phase, although this did not reach statistical significance. The CNRs of Gd-EOB-DTPA during the equilibrium phase was higher (P = 0.006)., Conclusions: Gadoxetate isodium resulted in lower CNR during the arterial phase and higher CNR during the portal venous, equilibrium, and 5-minute delayed phases compared with gadobenate dimeglumine using the Food and Drug Administration-approved doses; however, overall, there was no statistical significance (P = 0.077).

Rationale and Objectives: To determine if focal liver masses could be differentiated as benign or malignant on the basis of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)., Methods and Materials: A total of 104 patients with focal liver masses were scanned using 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). DWI was performed with b values of 0, 50, and 400 s/mm(2). Of these, 76 patients had lesions larger than 2 cm diameter, radiologic or pathologic characterization of the lesion, and diagnostic quality DWI. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the largest liver lesion was measured. The liver masses were diagnosed on histology or had characteristic computed tomography/MRI findings and follow up of more than 6 months. The analyzed lesions were hemangioma (n = 17), cysts (n = 5), hepatocellular cancer (HCC) (n = 41), adenoma (n = 3), focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) (n = 6), and metastases (n = 4)., Results: The mean (standard deviation) ADC values (10(-5) mm(2)/second) of hemangiomas, cysts, FNH, and HCC were 156.8 (54.1), 190.2 (43.0), 130.1 (81.9), and 107.6 (32.7). The ADC of cysts and hemangiomas were significantly higher than that of other lesions (P = .0003, t-test). There was no significant difference between ADC values of solid, benign liver lesions (FNH, adenoma) and malignant lesions (HCC, metastases) (P = .62)., Conclusion: Solid liver lesions have a lower ADC than cysts and hemangiomas. However, there is no significant difference in ADC between solid benign and malignant lesions. DWI appears to have only minimal additional value over currently used MRI sequences in characterizing liver masses.