Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Simultaneous detection of hepatocellular carcinoma and vessel thrombus by using SPIO-enhanced B-TFE with the T2 preparation pulse technique

  • Published:
Radiological Physics and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare between superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-enhanced three-dimensional balanced turbo field-echo (B-TFE) sequence with T2 preparation pulse (T2 prep) and T2*-weighted imaging (T2*WI) for the simultaneous detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and vessel thrombus. For 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging, SPIO was administered to 23 patients with a portal or venous tumor thrombus, and B-TFE with T2 prep and T2*WI were acquired. Regions of interest in the B-TFE and T2*WI were selected for the tumor, liver, tumor thrombus, and vessels. The contrasts of the HCC in the liver and the tumor thrombus in the vessels were determined from clinical image. Contrast was calculated using the mean value of the signal intensity on the HCC to the liver and tumor thrombus to vessels. The mean contrasts between HCC and the liver with the use of B-TFE and T2*WI were 0.61 ± 0.05 and 0.70 ± 0.04, respectively. The contrast of HCC to the liver was significantly higher in T2*WI than in B-TFE (p < 0.05). The mean contrasts between the tumor thrombus and vessels with the use of B-TFE and T2*WI were 0.28 ± 0.02 and 0.10 ± 0.02, respectively. The contrast of tumor thrombus in the vessels was higher in B-TFE than in T2*WI (p < 0.01). Kupffer imaging can be used to assess liver function and acquire morphological images using three-dimensional B-TFE with T2 prep. This technique would be helpful for simultaneous detection of HCC and tumor thrombus.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kew MC. Epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma. Toxicology. 2002;181–182:35–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Ribeiro A, Nagorney DM, Gores GJ. Localized hepatocellular carcinoma: therapeutic options. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2000;2:72–81.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Yamashita T, Kaneko S. Treatment strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma in Japan. Hepatol Res. 2013;43:44–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Yang B, Zan RY, Wang SY, Li XL, Wei ML, Guo WH, et al. Radiofrequency ablation versus percutaneous ethanol injection for hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. World J Surg Oncol. 2015;13:96.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Eisele RM, Schumacher G, Neuhaus P. Local recurrence following hepatic radiofrequency ablation. Diagnosis and treatment. Strahlenther Onkol. 2008;184:598–604.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Su TS, Liang P, Lu HZ, Liang J, Gao YC, Zhou Y, et al. Stereotactic body radiation therapy for small primary or recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma in 132 Chinese patients. J Surg Oncol. 2016;113(2):181–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Llovet JM, Bustamante J, Castells A, Vilana R, Ayuso Mdel C, Sala M, et al. Natural history of untreated nonsurgical hepatocellular carcinoma: rationale for design and evaluation of therapeutic trials. Hepatology. 1999;29(1):62–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Lee HS, Kin JS, Choi IJ, Chung JW, Park JH, Kim CY. The safety and efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and main portal vein obstruction. A prospective controlled study. Cancer. 1997;79:2087–94.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Sugahara S, Nakayama H, Fukuda K, Mizumoto M, Tokita M, Abei M, et al. Proton-beam therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma associated with portal vein tumor thrombosis. Strahlenther Onkol. 2009;185:782–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kogita S, Imai Y, Okada M, Kim T, Onishi H, Takamura M, et al. Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance images of hepatocellular carcinoma: correlation with histological grading and portal blood flow. Eur Radiol. 2010;20:2405–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Vogl TJ, Kümmel S, Hammerstingl R, Schellenbeck M, Schumacher G, Balzer T, et al. Liver tumors: comparison of MR imaging with Gd-EOB-DTPA and Gd-DTPA. Radiology. 1996;200:59–67.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Collidge TA, Thomson PC, Mark PB, Traynor JP, Jardine AG, Morris ST, et al. Gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis: retrospective study of a renal replacement therapy cohort. Radiology. 2007;245:168–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Nishie A, Tajima T, Ishigami K, Ushijima Y, Okamoto D, Hirakawa M, et al. Detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using super paramagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-enhanced MRI: added value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). J Magn Reson Imaging. 2010;31:373–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Catalano OA, Choy G, Zhu A, Hahn PF, Sahani DV. Differentiation of malignant thrombus from bland thrombus of the portal vein in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: application of diffusion-weighted MR imaging. Radiology. 2010;254:154–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Le Bihan D, Poupon C, Amadon A, Lethimonnier F. Artifacts and pitfalls in diffusion MRI. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2006;24:478–88.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Kanematsu M, Itoh K, Matsuo M, Maetani Y, Ametani F, Kondo H, Kato H, Hoshi H. Malignant hepatic tumor detection with ferumoxides-enhanced MR imaging with a (1.5-T system): comparison of four imaging pulse sequences. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2001;13:249–57.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Scheffler K, Lehnhardt S. Principles and applications of balanced SSFP techniques. Eur Radiol. 2003;13:2409–18.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Smith CS, Sheehy N, McEniff N, Keogan MT. Magnetic resonance portal venography: use of fast-acquisition true FISP imaging in the detection of portal vein thrombosis. Clin Radiol. 2007;62:1180–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Lee CU, Glockner JF. Vascular staging of renal and adrenal malignancies with a noncontrast enhanced steady state free precession technique. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2011;33:1406–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Enden T, Storås TH, Negård A, Haig Y, Sandvik L, Gjesdal KI, et al. Visualization of deep veins and detection of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) with balanced turbo field echo (b-TFE) and contrast-enhanced T1 fast field echo (CE-FFE) using a blood pool agent (BPA). J Magn Reson Imaging. 2010;31:416–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Brittain JH, Hu BS, Wright GA, Meyer CH, Macovski A, Nishimura DG. Coronary angiography with magnetization-prepared T2 contrast. Magn Reson Med. 1995;33:689–96.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Kanamoto M, Miyati T, Terashima K, et al. Preliminary study of detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and vessel thrombosis using superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-enhanced balanced turbo field echo (B-TFE) with T2 prep. Med Imag Infor Sci. 2014;31:19–23.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Oswald P, Clement O, Chambon C, Schouman-Claeys E, Frija G. Liver positive enhancement after injection of superparamagnetic nanoparticles: respective role of circulating and uptaken particles. Magn Reson Imaging. 1997;15:1025–31.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Namkung S, Zech CJ, Helmberger T, Reiser MF, Schoenberg SO. Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-enhanced liver MRI with ferucarbotran: efficacy for characterization of focal liver lesions. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2007;25:755–65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Reimer P, Tombach B. Hepatic MRI with SPIO: detection and characterization of focal liver lesions. Eur Radiol. 1998;8:1198–204.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Frydrychowicz A, Lubner MG, Brown JJ, Merkle EM, Nagle SK, Rofsky NM. Hepatobiliary MR imaging with gadolinium-based contrast agents. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2012;35:492–511.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Li C, Hu J, Zhou D, Zhao J, Ma K, Yin X, et al. Differentiation of bland from neoplastic thrombus of the portal vein in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: application of susceptibility-weighted MR imaging. BMC Cancer. 2014;14:590.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Okada M, Imai Y, Kim T, Kogita S, Takamura M, Kumano S, et al. Comparison of enhancement patterns of histologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma between gadoxetate-and fercarbotran-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2010;32:903–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Prof. Kunio Doi for great helpful discussions and support. The authors would like to thank Yusuke Tsunei and Yuki Yamamoto at the Department of Radiation Technology, Hyogo Ion Beam Medical Center, for technical support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of Fukui Hospital, 23-3 Shimoaizuki, Matsuoka, Eiheiji-tyo, Yoshida-gun, Fukui, 910-1193, Japan

    Masayuki Kanamoto

  2. Division of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, 5-11-80 Kodatsuno, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-0942, Japan

    Masayuki Kanamoto & Tosiaki Miyati

  3. Department of Radiology, Hyogo Ion Beam Medical Center, 1-2-1 Kouto, Shingutyo, Tatsuno, Hyogo, 679-5165, Japan

    Kazuki Terashima

  4. Department of Radiation Technology, Hyogo Ion Beam Medical Center, 1-2-1 Kouto, Shingutyo, Tatsuno, Hyogo, 679-5165, Japan

    Kei Katahira & Ryoji Ida

  5. Hyogo Ion Beam Medical Support, 1-2-1 Kouto, Shingutyo, Tatsuno, Hyogo, 679-5165, Japan

    Daisaku Suga

  6. Department of Radiation Oncology, Japanese Red Cross Ise Hospital, 1-471-2 Funase, Ise, Mie, 516-8512, Japan

    Nobukazu Fuwa

Authors
  1. Masayuki Kanamoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tosiaki Miyati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kazuki Terashima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kei Katahira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ryoji Ida
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Daisaku Suga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Nobukazu Fuwa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Masayuki Kanamoto.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

I declare that I have no conflict of interest in connection with this paper. This research received no specific grant form any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kanamoto, M., Miyati, T., Terashima, K. et al. Simultaneous detection of hepatocellular carcinoma and vessel thrombus by using SPIO-enhanced B-TFE with the T2 preparation pulse technique. Radiol Phys Technol 10, 234–239 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12194-017-0389-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12194-017-0389-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation