Magnetic resonance imaging of the liver hemangioma

15 liver hemangiomas from 10 patients were studied by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with 2.0 Tesla superconductive magnet in order to evaluate the detectability of the mass by MRI and to analyzed the optimal pulse sequence in high field magnet. Identical multislice/multiecho techniques were used in all patients obtained with T1-and T2 weighted spin echo using TR 500, 1500, 2000 msec and TE 30, 60, 90, 120 msec. MRI could detect liver hemangiomas in all cases. Hemangioma tended to have sharp margin, homogeneous signal intensity and no capsule and showed iso signal intensity in majority on SE 500/30 images. Hemangioma also had high signal intensity with prolongation of TR and TE. On T2-weighted images obtained with 2000 msec TR and 60, 90, 120 msec TE, hemangiomas had significantly greater contrast between the mass and surrounding liver than that on T1 weighted images. We believe that MRI may replace the angiography for the diagnosis of hemangioma and may become the procedure of choice for further work up of suspected small hemangioma on sonography