MR imaging of non-cancerous hepatic lesions in Long-Evans Cinnamon rats

We measured MR images of the liver of Long-Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats with pathologic correlation and assessed the effectiveness of MR imaging (MRI) for diagnosis of noncancerous hepatic lesions. T1- and T2-weighted images of their livers were obtained, and the dynamic and delayed studies after intravenous gadolinium injection were also performed. Cholangiofibrosis showed low signal intensity on T1-weighted images and high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. The T2 relaxation time of cholangiofibrosis was significantly prolonged (p < .01), and the signal intensity ratio of this lesion to muscle on T1-weighted images was significantly lower than that of normal liver parenchyma to muscle (p < .01). The lesion was enhanced immediately after gadolinium injection and the enhancement was prolonged. Among three cases of peliosis hepatis identified, one showed heterogeneous intensities on both T1- and T2-weighted images and the other two showed similar intensity pattern to cholangiofibrosis. The characteristic MR appearance of cholangiofibrosis may be useful to distinguish it from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).