Detection of hepatocellular carcinoma: comparison of ferumoxides-enhanced and gadolinium-enhanced dynamic three-dimensional volume interpolated breath-hold MR imaging

Abstract

The purpose was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of ferumoxides-enhanced MR imaging and gadolinium-enhanced dynamic MR imaging using three-dimensional (3D) volume interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) for the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Forty-nine patients with 61 HCCs, who underwent ferumoxides-enhanced and gadolinium-enhanced dynamic MR imaging, were included prospectively in this study. Ferumoxides-enhanced MR imaging was performed 24 h after completion of the dynamic study using 3D-VIBE. Three radiologists independently interpreted the images. The diagnostic accuracy was evaluated using the receiver-operating characteristic method, and the sensitivity of each imaging technique was compared using McNemar's test. The mean diagnostic accuracy of dynamic MR imaging (Az=0.95) was higher than that of ferumoxides-enhanced MR imaging (Az=0.90), but failed to reach a statistical significance (P=0.057). The mean sensitivity of dynamic MR imaging (90.7%) was significantly superior to that of ferumoxides-enhanced MR imaging (80.9%, P=0.03). Furthermore, for lesions smaller than 15 mm, the mean sensitivity of dynamic MR imaging was significantly higher than that of ferumoxides-enhanced MR imaging (85.2% vs. 69.2%, P<0.05). Dynamic MR imaging showed a trend toward better diagnostic accuracy for than ferumoxides-enhanced MR imaging for the detection of HCCs.

Biliary and reticuloendothelial impairment in hepatocarcinogenesis: the diagnostic role of tissue-specific MR contrast media

“…These results have been confirmed in more recent studies, where the use of 3D GRE techniques was introduced. In the study of Kwak et al the mean sensitivity of the gadolinium-enhanced dynamic 3D-GRE MR imaging was superior to that of ferumoxide-enhanced MR imaging (90.7 vs. 80.9%) [72]. Lower sensitivity in HCC detection of ferumoxide-enhanced MR imaging could be explained by the presence of reticular fibrosis of cirrhotic liver parenchyma that shows high SI and can obscure small HCCs [68,73].…”

Dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of abdominal solid organ and major vessel: Comparison of enhancement effect between Gd‐EOB‐DTPA and Gd‐DTPA

“…The three-dimensional (3D) T 1 -weighted gradientecho (GRE) sequence with fat saturation in combination with parallel imaging techniques has made it possible to image the whole liver with high spatial and temporal resolution (15)(16)(17)(18). To our knowledge, no study has compared the enhancement effect of the abdominal solid organ and the major vessel between Gd-EOB-DTPA and Gd-DTPA using 3D T 1 -weighted DCE-MRI.…”

Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Comparison of Gadoxetic Acid-Enhanced MRI, Diffusion-Weighted Imaging, and Combined Interpretation at 3 T MRI

“…Two im- . Three-dimensional GRE MRI using a hepatobiliary contrast agent provides thin sections with no gaps, high signal-to-noise ratio, and high sensitivity for detecting sub-centimeter-sized hepatocellular lesions (5,(36)(37)(38).…”

“…Imaging diagnosis is essential for planning the treatment and management of HCC. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have made it possible to accurately detect and characterize HCC (3)(4)(5). MRI is particularly useful due to its high tissue contrast and the availability of tissue-specific contrast agents.…”