MR imaging of focal liver disease

This paper differentials hemangioma from neoplasm by means of MR imaging with different imaging techniques. The results of MR imaging were compared with US, CT, and histopathology. In a prospective study, 28 patients with hemangioma and 35 patients suffering from neoplasia were examined with US, CT, and MR imaging. MR imaging first was performed with T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo sequences. Imaging quality was optimized with presaturation, data averaging,a nd shortening of measurement time, resulting in an effective reduction of motion artifacts and flow phenomenon. Additionally, fast gradient-echo sequences were used. With TR/TE being 7/3 and the flip angle being 8 degrees, a measurement time of 1.6 seconds per section was achieved. Thus it was possible to obtain images in single-breath technique and to show dynamic processes like the enhancement of contrast agent by repeating data acquisition 1 times with a repetition delay of 30 seconds. In all cases, the paramagnetic contrast agent Cd-DTPA was administered intravenously; the dose was 0.1 mmol/kg. With T2-weighted sequences, MR imaging succeeded in the differentiation of hemangioma from neoplasm in 90% of cases