CONTRAST ENHANCED MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING IN EVALUATION OF FOCAL LIVER LESIONS

Madhuri Atluri; Tummala Nageswara Rao; Shyam Prasad Reddy Bitla

Volume : VI, Issue : IV, April - 2016

CONTRAST ENHANCED MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING IN EVALUATION OF FOCAL LIVER LESIONS

Madhuri Atluri, Tummala Nageswara Rao, Shyam Prasad Reddy Bitla

Abstract :

Purpose: To assess the value of contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for characterization of hepatocellular lesions. Materials and methods: MRI of patients was performed on a 1.5 T GE, Signa Exite General Electronics Medical System Milwaukee, USA, machine using T2 SSFSE, T1 FSPGR, Dual Echo FSPGR, 2D FIESTA before contrast and axial dual phase LAVA after injection of Magnavist (Bayer healthcare pharmaceuticals Inc, Wayne, NJ) 0.1mmol per kg body weight. Image evaluation is done by the size, number, intensity and enhancement properties of the lesions. Results: For characterization of hepatocellular lesions Gadolinium enhanced imaging were significantly superior to nonenhanced imaging. Analysis of enhancement patterns aided in characterization and classification of hepatocellular tumors. Conclusion: Administration of gadolinium based contrast agents improves the differentiation between benign and malignant tumors and in better characterization of various benign and malignant entities. The accuracy for arriving at a specific diagnosis is higher when unenhanced and Gadolinium enhanced images are considered together than for unenhanced MR images alone.