Three-dimensional dynamic liver MR imaging using sensitivity encoding for detection of hepatocellular carcinomas: Comparison with superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced MR imaging

✍ Scribed by Young Kon Kim; Chong Soo Kim; Hyo Sung Kwak; Jeong Min Lee

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2004
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 804 KB
• Volume: 20
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1053-1807
• DOI: 10.1002/jmri.20188

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Purpose

To assess the diagnostic performance of three‐dimensional dynamic liver imaging with sensitivity encoding (SENSE), including double arterial phase images and increased resolution, by comparing it to superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)‐enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for the detection of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials and Methods

Twenty‐seven consecutive patients with 50 HCCs underwent Gd‐BOPTA‐enhanced dynamic imaging using SENSE and SPIO‐enhanced MR imaging with at least a 24‐hour interval between examinations. Using a three‐dimensional gradient‐echo technique applying SENSE, dynamic imaging consisting of double arterial phase‐, portal phase‐ and delayed phase‐images, was obtained. Using T2‐weighted turbo spin‐echo and T2*‐weighted fast imaging with steady‐state precession sequence, SPIO‐enhanced MR imaging was obtained. For qualitative analysis, the diagnostic accuracy of both MR examinations for detecting the 50 HCCs was evaluated using the alternative free‐response receiver operating characteristic method. Sensitivity and positive predictive value were also evaluated.

Results

The mean sensitivity and positive predictive value of three‐dimensional dynamic imaging with SENSE were 91.3% and 89.2%, respectively, and those of SPIO‐enhanced imaging were 77.3% and 92.6 %, respectively. There was a significant difference in sensitivity between the two images (P < 0.05). The mean Az value of three‐dimensional dynamic imaging with SENSE (0.97 ± 0.01) was significantly higher than that of SPIO‐enhanced imaging (0.90 ± 0.02) (P = 0.00).

Conclusion

Three‐dimensional dynamic liver MR imaging using SENSE for acquiring double arterial phase images is more efficient than SPIO‐enhanced MR imaging for detecting HCCs. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2004;20:826–837. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.