J Korean Radiol Soc.  2000 Feb;42(2):265-272. 10.3348/jkrs.2000.42.2.265.

Detectability of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Comparison of Gd-DT PA-Enhanced and SPIO-Enhanced MR Imaging

• Kwak HS
• Lee JM
• Kim IH
• Kim CS
• Han HY
• Yoon KH
• Shin KS

• KMID: 2025081
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.2000.42.2.265

Abstract

PURPOSE: To compare the detectability of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-enhanced T2-weighted turbo spin echo (TSE), SPIO-enhanced T2*-weighted FISP, and dynamic Gd-DTPA-enhanced fast low-angle shot (FLASH) MR images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In order to assess their hepatic lesions, 25 patients (20 men and 5 women) with HCC were enrolled in an MR study in which both gadolinium and SPIO were used. Since the lesions were most conspicuous during the phase of dynamic arterial dominant phase of dynamic gadolinium-enhanced imaging, this was the phase used for analysis. Images were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively, and to compare the diagnostic value of gadolinium-enhanced imaging with that of SPIO-enhanced imaging for the detection of HCCs, a receiver-operated characteristic curve was obtained. RESULTS: Qualitative analysis revealed a significantly higher percentage of signal loss and a higher liver-lesion contrast-to-noise ratio on SPIO-enhanced FISP imaging than on SPIO-enhanced T2-weighted TSE imaging (p<0.05). It also showed that the lesions were most clearly visible on SPIO-enhanced FISP imaging(and signifi-cantlyso), followed by SPIO-enhanced T2-weighted TSE imaging, and dynamic gadolinium-enhanced imag-ing. Imaging artifacts were more prominent on SPIO-enhanced T2-weighted TSE than on SPIO-enhanced PISF imaging or dynamic gadolinium-enhanced imaging(p<0.05). According to ROC analysis, SPIO-enhanced T2-weighted turbo spin echo(TSE) or SPIO-enhanced FISP imaging achieved higher accuracy than did dynamic gadolinium-enhanced FLASH imaging(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: For the detection of hepatocellular carcinomas, SPIO-enhanced MR imaging is better than gadolinium-enhanced FLASH imaging.

Keyword

Liver, MR; Liver neoplasms, MR; Magnetic resonance (MR), contrast agents; Magnetic resonance (MR), comparative studies

MeSH Terms

Artifacts
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular*
Gadolinium
Humans
Iron
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Male
ROC Curve
Gadolinium
Iron