Korean J Radiol.  2001 Dec;2(4):210-215. 10.3348/kjr.2001.2.4.210.

Detection of Malignant Primary Hepatic Neoplasms with Gadobenate Dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA) Enhanced T1-Weighted Hepatocyte Phase MR Imaging: Results of Off-site Blinded Review in a Phase-II Multicenter Trial

• Pena CS
• Saini S
• Baron RL
• Hamm BA
• Morana G
• Caudana R
• Giovagnoni A
• Villa A
• Carriero A
• Mathieu D
• Bourne MW
• Kirchin MA
• Pirovano G
• Spinazzi A

• KMID: 754090
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2001.2.4.210

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA) enhanced MR imaging for the detection of liver lesions in patients with primary malignant hepatic neoplasms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients with histologically proven primary malignancy of the liver were evaluated before and after administration of Gd-BOPTA at dose 0.05 or 0.10 mmol/kg. T1-weighted spin echo (T1W-SE) and gradient echo (T1W-GRE) images were evaluated for lesion number, location, size and confidence by three off-site independent reviewers and the findings were compared to reference standard imaging (intraoperative ultrasound, computed tomography during arterial portography or lipiodol computed tomography). Results were analyzed for significance using a two-sided McNemar's test. RESULTS: More lesions were identified on Gd-BOPTA enhanced images than on unenhanced images and there was no significant difference in lesion detection between either concentration. The largest benefit was in detection of lesions under 1 cm in size (7 to 21, 9 to 15, 16 to 18 for reviewers A, B, C respectively). In 68% of the patients with more than one lesion, Gd-BOPTA increased the number of lesions detected. CONCLUSION: Liver MR imaging after Gd-BOPTA increases the detection of liver lesions in patients with primary malignant hepatic neoplasm.

Keyword

Liver neoplasms, MR; Liver neoplasms, diagnosis; Magnetic resonance (MR), contrast media

MeSH Terms

Adenoma, Liver Cell/*diagnosis
Adult
Aged
*Contrast Media
Female
Human
Image Enhancement
Liver Neoplasms/*diagnosis
Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods
Male
Meglumine/*analogs & derivatives/*diagnostic use
Middle Age
Organometallic Compounds/*diagnostic use

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 61 year-old man with hepatocellular carcinoma. A. T1-weighted GRE image without contrast demonstrates a small segment 8 lesion (arrow). B. T1-weighted GRE image after injection of 0.1 mmol/kg of gadobenate dimeglumine shows increased conspicuity of the segment 8 lesion (arrow).

• 

  Fig. 2 72 year-old woman with hepatocellular carcinoma. A. T1-weighted SE image before contrast demonstrates a large lesion within segment 2-3. B. T1-weighted SE image performed 90 minutes after injection of 0.05 mmol/kg of gadobenate dimeglumine better delineates a second lesion within segment 4 (arrow). Note even though there is enhancement of the tumor, the lesion to liver contrast still increases.

• 

  Fig. 3 35 year-old woman with hepatocellular carcinoma. A. T1-weighted GRE image before contrast demonstrates large primary lesion. B. T1-weighted GRE image performed 90 minutes after injection of 0.05 mmol/kg of gadobenate dimeglumine better identifies the large primary tumor but also of smaller lesions within the right lobe.

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