Characterization of liver metastases: the efficacy of biphasic magnetic resonance imaging with ferucarbotran-enhancement.

Abstract

AIM:

To retrospectively evaluate the efficacy of biphasic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the liver with ferucarbotran-enhancement for the characterization of hepatic metastases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Thirty-six patients underwent MRI of the liver with separate acquisition of double-contrast enhancement consisting of gadolinium and ferucarbotran. A total of 106 focal hepatic lesions (51 metastases, 31 cysts, 23 haemangiomas, and one eosinophilic abscess) were included. Two sets of MRI were analysed: (1) ferucarbotran set: ferucarbotran-enhanced T1-weighted (T1W) dynamic imaging combined with ferucarbotran-enhanced T2*-weighted (T2*W) delayed imaging and (2) double set: gadolinium-enhanced T1W dynamic imaging combined with ferucarbotran-enhanced T2*W delayed imaging. The diagnostic accuracy of the two sets was evaluated using alternative free-response receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Sensitivity and specificity were compared using the McNemar test. The enhancement pattern of focal hepatic lesions was analysed on gadolinium and ferucarbotran-enhanced T1W dynamic imaging.

RESULTS:

There was no significant difference in the accuracy of characterizing hepatic metastases between the two sets. Sensitivity and specificity were not significantly different between the sets (p>0.05). Peripheral rim enhancement was exhibited in 57% of metastatic lesions on ferucarbotran-enhanced T1W dynamic imaging. The majority (96%) of hepatic haemangiomas demonstrated typical peripheral nodular enhancement with progression on ferucarbotran-enhanced T1W dynamic imaging and were easily differentiated from metastases.

CONCLUSION:

Biphasic MRI of the liver with ferucarbotran-enhancement alone provided comparable diagnostic efficacy to double-contrast MRI for the characterization of hepatic metastases.

• Authors: H S Hong, J H Byun, H J Won, K W Kim, S S Lee, M G Lee, S C Yun
• Journal: Clinical radiology (Clin Radiol) Vol. 65 Issue 9 Pg. 701-7 (Sep 2010) ISSN: 1365-229X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20696297 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Contrast Media
• Dextrans
• Magnetite Nanoparticles
• ferumoxides
• Gadolinium DTPA

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Colorectal Neoplasms (diagnosis, pathology)
• Contrast Media
• Dextrans
• Female
• Gadolinium DTPA
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (diagnosis, secondary)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (methods)
• Magnetite Nanoparticles
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Retrospective Studies
• Sensitivity and Specificity