The clinical impact of magnetic resonance imaging in diagnosing focal hepatic lesions and suspected cancer

Clin Imaging. 2009 May-Jun;33(3):209-12. doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2008.09.015.

Abstract

Aims: To compare the clinical utility of contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to ultrasound (USS) and computed tomography (CT) in focal hepatic lesions (FHLs)

Methods: This retrospective study analysed 125 consecutive iron oxide enhanced (SPIO) MRI.

Results: MRI made a difference in 74% of patients who had USS and in 42% of patients who had a CT scan. In suspected cancer, MRI changed diagnosis in 58% and 37% (13/35), respectively.

Conclusions: MRI is superior to other noninvasive imaging modalities for lesion identification and characterisation.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Contrast Media
  • Female
  • Ferric Compounds*
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*
  • Ultrasonography / methods*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Ferric Compounds
  • ferric oxide