Comparison of dynamic contrast-enhanced turbo FLASH MR imaging with conventional sequences in the detection and characterization of liver tumors

This paper evaluates the clinical potential of Turbo fast low-angle shot (FLASH) MR imaging in liver tumors. Turbo FLASH is composed of an inversion-recovery pulse allowing T1 contrast coupled with a very short FLASH sequence (TR = 7 mes. TE = 4 msec, flip angle 10 degrees, acquisition time < 2 seconds). Tumor hemokinetics can be studied when sections are sequentially obtained (every 5 seconds) after intravenous injection of a paramagnetic contrast agent. Sixty-five patients with lover tumors (18 metastases, 17 hepatocellular carcinomas, 18 hemangiomas, eight focal nodular hyperplasia, and four adenomas) were studied with a 1.5-T Magentom Siemens by the following sequences: spin-echo T1-weighted and T2-weighted, Turbo FLASH sequence before and after bolus injection of 0.1 mmol/kg gadolinium-DOTA, and delayed enhanced spin-echo T1-weighted. Comparison included the number of lesions depicted in each sequence and the patterns of contrast enhancement of each histologic group of tumor