Role of EPI in Diagnosing Cavernous Hemangioma & Small HCC: Comparision with Fast T2-Weighted MR Imaging

Kim, Suk; Lee, Jun Woo; Kim, Chang Won; Jung, Hyun Woo; Choi, Sang Yoel; Lee, Suck Hong; Kim, Byung Soo

Abstract

PURPOSE: To compare single-shot echo-planar MR imaging(EPI) with breath-hold fast T2-weighted imaging(HASTEor Turbo spin-echo T2WI) for evaluation of the role of EPI in distinguishing small hepatocellular carcinoma fromcavernous hemangioma.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We retrospectively evaluated MR images of 35 patients (21 cases ofsmall HCC and 14 cases of cavernous hemangioma). EPI and breath-hold fast T2WI images were obtained and comparedon the basis of lesion detection sensitivity, lesion-to-liver signal intensity ratio(SIR), contrast ratio(CT), andlesion-to-liver contrast to noise ratio(CNR).
RESULTS
For the detection of small HCC, the sensitivity of EPI andbreath-hold fast T2WI were equal in 14 of 21 cases(71.4%). The detection sensitivity of cavernous hemangioma withEPI and breath-hold fast T2WI was 100%(14/14). Mean SIR on breath-hold fast T2WI was 2.02+/-0.45 for small HCC and3.65+/-0.97 for cavernous hemangioma; on EPI, the corresponding figures wer 2.91+/-0.57 and 6.98+/-1.37. Mean CR onbreath-hold fast T2WI was 1.16+/-0.58 for small HCC and 2.65+/-0.57 for cavernous hemangioma; On EPI, the figuresobtained were 2.27+/-0.52 and 6.26+/-2.19, respectively. Mean CNR on breath-hold fast T2WI was 14.24+/- 4.098 forsmall HCC and 50.28+/-10.96 for cavernous hemangioma, while on EPI, the corresponding figures were 13.84+/-3.02 and45.44+/-11.21.
CONCLUSION
In detecting focal hepatic mass, the sensitivity of EPI and breath-hold fast T2WI arecomparable; for the diagnosis of small HCC and cavernous hemangioma, EPI can provide additional information.