To evaluate utility of
Gd-DTPA enhanced MRI (Gd-MRI) in
lung cancer, Gd-MRI was performed in 69 cases. 1) Viable
tumor was strongly enhanced,
necrosis in the
tumor, however, was not enhanced on Gd-MRI. Enhanced patterns of Gd-MRI were divided into 3 types, however there was little correlation between the enhancement patterns and histologic types. 2) In serial scan studies of 15 cases, the signal intensity of the
tumor reached the peak 3 minutes to 10 minutes after
Gd-DTPA administration, and after that the signal intensity decreased gradually. 3) In 23 of 27 (85%) hilar
lung cancer cases, Gd-MRI could differentiate the
tumor from the peripheral obstructive
pneumonia or
atelectasis. In 18 of these 23 cases, the peripheral
lung disease showed higher intensity than the
tumor. 4) In Gd-MRI of pulmonary nodules less than 3 cm in diameter,
lung cancers (n = 13) were more strongly enhanced than
tuberculomas (n = 5) (p less than 0.001). Based on these data, Gd-MRI was helpful for detecting
tumor necrosis and
tumor extension on hilar
lung cancer with peripheral
lung disease. Moreover Gd-MRI may become a feasible diagnostic method for pulmonary nodules.