The use of T2*-weighted multi-echo GRE imaging as a novel method to diagnose hepatocellular carcinoma compared with gadolinium-enhanced MRI: a feasibility study
✍ Scribed by Andrew D. Hardie; Peter B. Romano
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 2010
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 578 KB
- Volume
- 28
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0730-725X
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✦ Synopsis
Background:
The goal of the study was to assess a t2*-weighted mri sequence for the ability to identify hepatocellular carcinoma (hcc).
Methods:
Hepatic iron deposition, which is common in chronic liver disease (cld), may increase the conspicuity of hcc on gre imaging due to increased t2* signal decay in liver parenchyma. in this study, a breath-hold t2*-weighted mri sequence was evaluated by a blinded observer for hcc and the results compared to a reference standard of gadolinium-enhanced mri in these same patients. forty-one patients (mean age 56.2 years; 17 females) were included in this approved, retrospective study.
Results:
By the reference standard, 14 of 41 patients had a total of 25 hccs. the sensitivity of the t2*-weighted mr sequence for identifying hcc, per lesion, was 60%, while the specificity was 100%. there was a significantly lower t2* value of liver parenchyma in patients with hcc identified by the t2*-weighted sequence than in those with hccs which were not identified by the t2*-weighted sequence (27.8+/-2.2 vs. 21.9+/-2.1 ms; p=.02).
Conclusions:
A t2*-weighted mri sequence can identify hcc in patients with cld. this technique may be beneficial for imaging of patients contraindicated for gadolinium.