Summary
To evaluate the usefulness of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the diagnosis of liver tumors, MR imaging was performed in 70 patients, 30 with normal or cirrhotic liver, 15 with benign tumors and 25 with malignant tumors. MR imaging was carried out with a 0.5-Tesla superconducting magnet and was made using a spin-echo technique, from which T1 and T2-weighted images were obtained, and also T1 and T2 values were measured. Hemangiomas and cysts were demonstrated as sharply circumscribed homogeneous masses of lowor high-intensity on each image. Hepatomas were revealed as low-, isoand high-intensity masses on both images. The minimum size of hepatoma detected, 1 cm in diameter, exhibited uniform intensity. Large hepatomas showed a mosaic pattern of different intensities, a low-intensity area around the mass, and a capsular pattern. The majority of metastatic tumors demonstrated a characteristic irregularity at the periphery of the mass. There were significant differences in T1 and T2 values between benign and malignant tumors. These results suggest that MR imaging is useful not only in the detection but also in the differentiation of liver tumors and can permit evaluation of the architecture of the tumor.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Green B, Bree BL, Goldstein HM: Gray scale ultrasound evaluation of hepatic neoplasms: patterns and correlations. Radiology 1977, 124: 203–208
Bryan PJ, Dinn WM, Grossman ZD, et al: Correlation of computed tomography, gray scale ultrasonography, and radionuclide imaging of the liver in detecting spaceoccupying processes, radiology 1977, 124: 387–393
Itai Y, Araki T, Furui S, et al: Differential daignosis of hepatic masses on computed tomography, with particular reference to hepatocellular carcinoma. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1981,5: 834–842
Smith FW, Mallard JR, Reid A, et al: Nuclear magnetic resonance tomographic imaging in liver disease. Lancet 1981;1:936–966
Doyle FH, Pennock JM, Banks LM, et al: Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of the liver: initial experience. AJR 1982, 138: 193–200
Borkowski GP, Buonocore E, George CR, et al: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging in the evaluation of the liver: a preliminary experience. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1983, 7: 768–774
Moss AA, Goldberg HI, Stark DB, et al: Hepatic tumors: magnetic resonance and CT appearance. Radiology 1984;150:141–147
Heiken JP, Lee JKT, Glazer HS, et al: Hepatic metastases studied with MR and CT. Radiology 1985, 156: 423–427
Ebara M, Ohto M, Watanabe Y, et al: Diagnosis of small hepatocellular carcinoma: correlation of MR imaging and tumor histologic studies. Radiology 1986, 159: 371–377
Henkelman RM, Hardy P, Poon PY, et al: Optimal pulse sequence for imaging hepatic metastases. Radiology 1986, 161: 727–734
Reining JM, Dwyer AJ, Miller DL, et al: Liver metastasis detection: comparative sensitivities of MR imaging and CT scanning. Radiology 1987, 162: 43–47
Hricak H, Filly RA, Margulis AR, et al: Work in progress: pnuclear magnetic resonance imaging of the gallbladder. Radiology 1983, 147: 481–484
Bernardino ME, Small W, Goldstein J, et al: Multiple NMR T2 relaxation values in human liver tissue. AJR 1983, 141: 1203–1208
Stark DD, Felder RC, Wittenberg J, et al: Magnetic resonance imaging of cavernous hemangioma of the liver: tissuespecific characterization. AJR 1985, 145: 213–222
Kinami Y, Miyazaki I: The superselective and the selective one shot methods for treating inoperable cancer of the liver. Cancer 1978, 41: 1720–1727
Ferrucci JT: MR imaging of the liver. AJR 1986,147:1103–1116
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kinami, Y., Yokota, H., Takata, M. et al. Magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of tumors of the liver. Gastroenterol Jpn 23, 139–146 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02799025
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02799025