Gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging is the most useful imaging technique for evaluating small HCC, including early HCC.

Purpose: To clarify the factors that predict enhancement of the liver parenchyma in hepatocyte-phase of gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MR imaging. Materials and Methods:Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced hepatocyte-phase MR images of 198 patients with chronic liver diseases (Child-Pugh class A in 112 patients, class B in 74 patients, and class C in 12 patients) were retrospectively analyzed. The hepatocyte-phase images were obtained using fat-suppressed T1-weighted gradient-echo images with a 3D acquisition sequence 10 min and 20 min after IV administration of Gd-EOB-DTPA (0.025 mmol/kg body weight). The quantitative liver-spleen contrast ratio (Q-LSC) was calculated using the signal intensities of the liver and spleen. Serum albumin levels, total bilirubin levels, prothrombin activity, and the results of indocyanine green clearance tests (ICGs) were recorded and correlated with the Q-LSC. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze which factors predict sufficient liver enhancement using a Q-LSC of 1.5 as a cutoff value.Results: Only ICGs and Child-Pugh classifications showed a statistically significant correlation with the Q-LSC. Logistic regression analysis showed that ICGs were the only factors that accurately predicted liver enhancement on hepatocyte-phase images.Conclusion: ICGs were found to be predictors of sufficient liver enhancement on hepatocyte-phase images.

High-b-value DW-MRI allows detection of colorectal adenocarcinoma with a high sensitivity and specificity.

High-b value DWI allows the detection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma with a high sensitivity and specificity.

Gadoxetic acid-enhanced hepatocyte-phase MR imaging and DW imaging could be used to distinguish hypervascular pseudolesions from hypervascular HCCs; a hepatocyte-phase SI ratio below 0.84 and visibility on DW images were findings specific for HCCs rather than pseudolesions.