High-resolution double arterial phase hepatic MRI using adaptive 2D centric view ordering: initial clinical experience.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to evaluate a new 3D fast spoiled gradient-recalled echo (FSPGR) sequence referred to as modified liver acceleration volume acquisition (LAVA) for high-resolution gadolinium-enhanced dual arterial phase liver MRI and to determine the effect of this technique on the timing of the contrast bolus and lesion detection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gadolinium-enhanced dual arterial phase liver MRI was performed in 109 patients using a modified LAVA sequence that supports adaptive 2D centric view ordering, efficient 2D autocalibrated acceleration, and partial-Fourier to achieve faster scan times while maintaining the same slice thickness, resolution, and coverage as single-phase imaging. After a fixed 20-second scan delay, a modified LAVA acquisition required a single 24- to 26-second breath-hold for two arterial phases with 56-60 slices per pass. Images were reviewed for timing relative to liver enhancement, lesion conspicuity, and lesion detection. Liver lesion depiction was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. A control group of 109 patients underwent imaging using a single arterial phase 3D FSPGR sequence, which was also performed with a fixed 20-second scan delay. RESULTS: The single arterial phase images produced optimal timing in the middle or late arterial phase in 79 (72%) of the 109 control group patients compared with 99 (91%) of the 109 study group patients who underwent imaging using a dynamic modified LAVA dual arterial phase sequence. For the modified LAVA sequence, the first-pass images were obtained during the mid arterial phase in 34 patients (31%). The second-pass images were obtained during the mid arterial phase in 51 patients (47%) and late arterial phase in 26 patients (24%). Sixty-two patients had liver lesions showing greater conspicuity--on the first phase in 17 patients (27%) and second phase in 45 patients (73%). Hypovascular lesions were more conspicuous on second-phase images in 24 (86%) of 28 patients. Hypervascular lesions were more conspicuous on first-phase images in 13 patients (38%) and on second-phase images in 21 (62%) of 34 patients. The first-phase images detected 165 and 155 liver lesions, respectively, for two observers compared with 233 and 224 lesions on the second-phase images, whereas the combined dual arterial phase images detected 256 and 248 hepatic lesions. CONCLUSION: High-resolution dual arterial phase 3D FSPGR MRI improves the timing of the arterial phase of liver enhancement and provides additional information for liver lesion detection.

Lymphocytic vasculitis mimicking aggressive multifocal cerebral neoplasm: mr imaging and MR spectroscopic appearance.

We present a case of multifocal enhancing lesions confined to the right cerebral hemisphere that mimicked diffuse neoplasm. MR spectroscopy revealed not only minimal elevation of the choline peak, but also marked elevation of the glutamate and glutamine peaks, findings that are more suggestive of an inflammatory process. Biopsy showed lymphocytic vasculitis, a rare variant of primary angiitis of the CNS. Following appropriate medical therapy, MR imaging demonstrated complete resolution of the lesions.