Investigating difficult to detect pancreatic lesions: Characterization of benign pancreatic islet cell tumors using multiparametric pancreatic 3-T MRI.

INTRODUCTION: Pancreatic islet-cell tumors (PICT) often present with atypical signal-characteristics and are often missed on preoperative imaging. The aim of this study is to provide a multiparametric PICT characterization and investigate factors impeding PICT detection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a detailed MRI analysis of a prospective, monocenter study, including 49 consecutive patients (37 female, 12 male; median age 50) with symptoms due to endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (EHH) and mostly negative prior-imaging. All patients received a 3-T MRI and a 68Ga-DOTA-exendin-4-PET/CT. Pooled accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and inter-reader agreement were calculated. Reference-standard was histopathology and 68Ga-DOTA-Exendin-4-PET/CT in one patient who refused surgery. For PICT analyses, 34 patients with 49 PICTs (48 histologically proven; one 68Ga-DOTA-exendin-4-PET/CT positive) were assessed. Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI) with Golden-Angle-Radial-Sparse-Parallel (GRASP) reconstruction, enabling imaging at high spatial and temporal resolution, was used to assess enhancement-patterns of PICTs. Tumor-to-background (T2B) ratio for each sequence and the employed quantitative threshold for conspicuity of PICTs were analyzed in regard to prediction of true-positive PICTs. RESULTS: Evaluation of 49 patients revealed a pooled lesion-based accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of 70.3%, 72.9% and 62.5%, respectively. Mean PICT size was 12.9±5.3mm for detected, 9.0±2.9mm for undetected PICTs (p-value 0.0112). In-phase T1w detected the most PICT (67.3%). Depending on the sequence, PICTs were isointense and poorly visible in 29-68%. Only 2/41(4.9%) PICTs showed typical signal-characteristics across T1w, T2w, DWI and ceT1w combined. 66.6% of PICTs enhanced simultaneously to the parenchyma, 17.8% early and 15.6% late. Predictor screening analysis showed number of sequences detecting a PICT, lesion size and in-phase T1w T2B ratio had the highest contribution for detecting a true-positive PICT. CONCLUSION: The majority of PICTs enhance simultaneously to surrounding parenchyma, present with atypical signal-characteristics and thus are poorly visible. In non-enhancing PICTs, radiologists should search for small lesions most likely conspicuous on unenhanced T1w or DWI.

Consensus report from the 8th International Forum for Liver Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

OBJECTIVES: The 8th International Forum for Liver Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), held in Basel, Switzerland, in October 2017, brought together clinical and academic radiologists from around the world to discuss developments in and reach consensus on key issues in the field of gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI since the previous Forum held in 2013. METHODS: Two main themes in liver MRI were considered in detail at the Forum: the use of gadoxetic acid for contrast-enhanced MRI in patients with liver cirrhosis and the technical performance of gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI, both opportunities and challenges. This article summarises the expert presentations and the delegate voting on consensus statements discussed at the Forum. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI has higher sensitivity for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), when compared with multidetector CT, by utilising features of hyperenhancement in the arterial phase and hypointensity in the hepatobiliary phase (HBP). Recent HCC management guidelines recognise an increasing role for gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI in early diagnosis and monitoring post-resection. Additional research is needed to define the role of HBP in predicting microvascular invasion, to better define washout during the transitional phase in gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI for HCC diagnosis, and to reduce the artefacts encountered in the arterial phase. Technical developments are being directed to shortening the MRI protocol for reducing time and patient discomfort and toward utilising faster imaging and non-Cartesian free-breathing approaches that have the potential to improve multiphasic dynamic imaging. KEY POINTS: • Gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI provides higher diagnostic sensitivity than CT for diagnosing HCC. • Gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI has roles in early-HCC diagnosis and monitoring post-resection response. • Faster imaging and free-breathing approaches have potential to improve multiphasic dynamic imaging.

Quantitative Whole-Body Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging.

Whole-body diffusion-weighted MRI has emerged as a powerful diagnostic tool for disease detection and staging mainly used in systemic bone disease. The large field-of-view functional imaging technique highlights cellular tumor and suppresses normal tissue signal, allowing quantification of an estimate of total disease burden, summarized as the total diffusion volume (tDV), as well as global apparent diffusion coefficient (gADC) measurements. Both tDV and gADC have been shown to be repeatable quantitative parameters that indicate tumor heterogeneity and treatment effects, thus potential, noninvasive, imaging biomarkers informing on disease prognosis and therapy response.

Consensus report from the 7th International Forum for Liver Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

OBJECTIVES: Liver-specific MRI is a fast-growing field, with technological and protocol advancements providing more robust imaging and allowing a greater depth of information per examination. This article reports the evidence for, and expert thinking on, current challenges in liver-specific MRI, as discussed at the 7th International Forum for Liver MRI, which was held in Shanghai, China, in October 2013. METHODS: Topics discussed included the role of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI in the differentiation of focal nodular hyperplasia from hepatocellular adenoma and small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from small intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (in patients with chronic liver disease), the differentiation of low-grade dysplastic nodule (DN) from pre-malignant high-grade DN and early HCC, and treatment planning and assessment of treatment response for patients with HCC and colorectal liver metastasis. Optimization of the gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI protocol to gain robust arterial and hepatobiliary phase images was also discussed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI demonstrates added value for the detection and characterization of focal liver lesions and shows promise in a number of new indications, including regional liver functional assessment and patient monitoring after therapy; however, more data are needed in some areas, and further developments are needed to translate cutting-edge techniques into clinical practice. KEY POINTS: Liver-specific MRI is a fast-growing field, with many technological and protocol advancements. Gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI demonstrates value for detecting and characterizing focal liver lesions. Gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI shows promise in regional functional assessment and patient monitoring. Further developments are needed to translate cutting-edge techniques into clinical practice.

Impact of precontrast T10 relaxation times on dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI pharmacokinetic parameters: T10 mapping versus a fixed T10 reference value.

PURPOSE: To investigate variation in dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) pharmacokinetic parameter measurements between different methods of precontrast tissue relaxation (T10) estimation: pixel-based mapping versus a fixed reference value. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 15 DCE-MRI studies the female pelvis, uterine fibroids, the left psoas muscle, and the fifth lumbar vertebral body were chosen to represent tissues with varying perfusion characteristics. All DCEMRI studies were processed using a variable flip angle T10 map and a fixed T10 reference value of 1000 msec. A subset of five DCE-MRI studies were each processed multiple times using the fixed T10 method with the reference T10 ranging from 0­2000 msec in 100-msec increments. Pharmacokinetic measurements of Ktrans, kep, ve, and initial area under the gadolinium curve (iAUGC) were performed maintaining the identical position for region of interest placement on each structure. RESULTS: The mean difference in pharmacokinetic output between the pixel-based T10 map and the fixed T10 reference value ranged from 6.6% for kep in the muscle to 54.9% for iAUGC in the vertebral body. At lower T10 (<1000 msec) aberrations in T10 estimation resulted in a larger error. Accurate measurement of T10 for each structure subsequently incorporated as a fixed T10 reference value yielded relative differences from 41.8% to 22.3% compared to the pixel-based T10 map. CONCLUSION: Direct comparison of pharmacokinetic parameters derived from a pixel-based approach versus a reference value uniformly applied to all pixels for T10 estimation is impeded by the inherent spatial heterogeneity of T10 within tissues.

Consensus report from the 6th International forum for liver MRI using gadoxetic acid.

As the utility of liver-specific magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) increases, it is pertinent to optimize and expand protocols to improve accuracy and foster evolution of techniques; in turn, positive impacts should be seen in patient management. This article reports on the latest expert thinking and current evidence in the field of liver-specific MRI, as discussed at the 6(th) International Forum for Liver MRI, which was held in Vancouver, Canada in September 2012. Topics discussed at this forum described the use of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI for the assessment of liver function at the segmental level; to increase accuracy in the diagnosis of liver metastases; to overcome current challenges in patients with cirrhosis, including management of arterial hypo-/isovascular, hepatobiliary phase hypointense nodules; and the data which would be required in order to recommend the use of this modality in hepatocellular carcinoma management guidelines. Growing evidence suggests that gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI can help to improve the management of patients with a number of different liver disorders; however, more data are needed in some areas, and there may be a case for developing an interpretation guideline for gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI findings to aid standardization.

Automated patient-tailored screening of the liver for diffuse steatosis and iron overload using MRI.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to validate an automated screening method for evaluation of hepatic steatosis or siderosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a two-part study, with retrospective and prospective portions. First, 130 consecutive abdominal MRI examinations, including both the automated algorithm and reference standard fat and iron quantification, were retrospectively identified. The algorithm's performance was validated against the reference standard and was compared with the performance of three expert readers. Subsequently, 39 subjects undergoing liver MRI were prospectively identified and enrolled. These subjects were scanned with a protocol where quantification sequences were either performed or not performed on the basis of the recommendation of the algorithm. Total examination time in these subjects was compared with examination times in the 90 subjects from the retrospective cohort who had undergone a similar liver MRI protocol with complete quantification. RESULTS: The automated algorithm was accurate in determining the presence of deposition disease (93.1%), with no significant difference between its conclusions and those of any of the readers (p=0.48-1.0). Use of the algorithm resulted in a small but statistically significant time savings compared with performing quantification in all subjects (28 minutes 56 seconds vs 31 minutes 20 seconds; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Automated screening for hepatic steatosis and siderosis can be performed in real time during abdominal MRI examinations, can save total scan time compared with always performing quantification, and could serve as a gatekeeper for dedicated quantification sequences.

Bone marrow enhancement during time-resolved magnetic resonance angiography of the pelvis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine whether visible bone marrow enhancement (BME) at pelvic magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) correlates with anemia. METHODS: This is an institutional review board-approved, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant retrospective study. Seventy-five female patients with a hemoglobin (Hb) test within 10 days of an MRA examination of the pelvis are included, mean age of 46 years (range, 18-81 years). The BME was graded using a 4-point scale. Fifteen subjects had sufficient imaging data for calculation of quantitative perfusion parameters. Receiver operating characteristic and analysis of covariance were performed for 2 levels of anemia. RESULTS: Enhancement was visually present in 44% (33/75) of cases; 66% (19/29) of anemic subjects (Hb < 12 g/dL), and 30% (14/46) of nonanemic subjects (P = 0.002). Enhancement had a sensitivity of 87.5% and a specificity of 92.5% for the diagnosis of severe anemia (Hb < 10 g/dL); 88% (7/8) of these subjects had moderate to marked enhancement. A high extraction coefficient (Kep) in the iliac crest was associated with anemia, with an area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic of 0.85 for mild anemia and 0.92 for severe anemia. CONCLUSIONS: Visible BME during time-resolved MRA is common and may be related to anemia.

Lesion detection and assessment of extrahepatic findings in abdominal MRI using hepatocyte specific contrast agents--comparison of Gd-EOB-DTPA and Gd-BOPTA.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the contrast agent performance of Gd-EOB-DTPA and Gd-BOPTA for detection and assessment of extrahepatic findings, semi-quantitatively and qualitatively. METHODS: 13 patients with 19 extrahepatic lesions underwent liver MRI with Gd-EOB-DTPA and Gd-BOPTA. Quantitative and relative SNR measurements were performed in each dataset in the arterial and portalvenous phase within the extrahepatic lesion, aorta, inferior vena cava, portal vein, spleen, pancreas and renal cortex. Further, relative CNR measurements were performed. Three readers assessed contrast quality using a five-point scale and choosing the preferred image dataset. Statistical analysis consisted of a Student's t-test with p < 0.05 deemed significant, a weighted kappa statistic for assessment of interobserver variability and an ROC analysis. RESULTS: Mean SNR after injection of Gd-BOPTA was significantly higher compared with Gd-EOB-DTPA for all measurements (p < 0.05). Mean relative SNR was also higher for Gd-BOPTA, but without being statistically significant. There was no significant difference in relative CNR. Interobserver agreement for selection of image preference was moderate (mean weighted kappa 0.485). The area under the curve for the ROC-analysis regarding contrast agent performance was 0.464. CONCLUSION: Even though mean SNR is significantly higher after injection of Gd-BOPTA compared with Gd-EOB-DTPA, there is no significant difference in relative CNR with extrahepatic lesions being assessed equally well. Visual impression may differ after injection of Gd-EOB-DTPA, but does not influence image interpretation. Extrahepatic findings can be assessed similarly to MRI after injection of Gd-BOPTA.

Quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of pelvic and lumbar bone marrow: effect of age and marrow fat content on pharmacokinetic parameter values.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of age and fat content on quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) parameters in the bone marrow of the lumbar spine and pelvis. The interreader reproducibility of this technique will also be assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-three DCE-MRI studies of the female pelvis defined the study group. Quantitative pharmacokinetic perfusion parameters of lumbar and pelvic marrow were analyzed by three readers on a DCE-MRI postprocessing platform. Linear regression analysis was performed to determine the effect of age and marrow fat fraction on the parameters of transfer constant (K(trans)), efflux rate constant (K(ep)), extravascular extracellular space (V(e)), and initial area under the gadolinium curve at 60 seconds (iAUGC(60)). Interreader agreement was assessed by means of intraclass correlation coefficient calculation. RESULTS: A weak but statistically significant correlation was established between both age and fat fraction and the parameters K(trans) (R(2) = 0.14) and K(ep) (R(2) = 0.09). There was also a weak but statistically significant correlation between fat fraction and V(e) (R(2) = 0.116) and iAUGC(60) (R(2) = 0.108), but no correlation between age and these parameters. Intraclass correlation coefficients of parameter measurements by different readers were all greater than 0.7 at the p < 0.05 level. CONCLUSION: Age and fat fraction have small measurable effects on quantitative DCE-MRI parameters in bone marrow. However, given the wide interindividual variation of these parameters, these effects are unlikely to confound changes related to malignancy or treatment. Also of note, there was strong interreader reproducibility of parameter measurements among a range of experience levels, suggesting that the reader-reader experience level may not represent a significant source of variability in bone marrow DCE-MRI.

Inter- and intra-rater reproducibility of quantitative dynamic contrast enhanced MRI using TWIST perfusion data in a uterine fibroid model.

PURPOSE: To determine the reproducibility of TWIST-derived (Time-Resolved Angiography with Interleaved Stochastic Trajectories) quantitative dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI in a uterine fibroid model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The institutional review board approved this retrospective study. Dynamic contrast-enhanced TWIST datasets from 15 randomly selected 1.5 Tesla pelvic MR studies were postprocessed. Five readers recorded kinetic parameters (K(trans) [volume transfer constant], ve [extracellular extravascular space volume], kep [flux rate constant], iAUC [initial area under the gadolinium-time curve]) of the largest uterine fibroid using three region-of-interest (ROI) selection methods. Measurements were randomized and repeated three times, and measures of reproducibility were calculated. RESULTS: The intra-rater coefficients of variation (CVs, brackets indicate 95% confidence intervals) varied from 4.6% to 7.6% (K(trans) 7.6% [6.1%, 9.1%], kep 7.2% [5.9%, 8.5%], ve 4.6% [3.8%, 5.4%], and iAUC 7.2% [6.1%, 8.3%]). ve was the most reproducible (P < 0.05). Inter-rater reproducibility was significantly (P < 0.05) greater for the large ROI method (range of intraclass correlation coefficients [ICCs] = 0.80-0.98 versus 0.48-0.63 [user-defined ROI] versus 0.41-0.69 [targeted ROI]). The uterine fibroid accounted for the greatest fraction of variance for the large ROI method (range across kinetic parameters: 83-98% versus 56-69% [user-defined ROI] versus 47-74% [targeted ROI]). The reader accounted for the greatest fraction of variance for the user-defined ROI method (0.4-14.1% versus 0.1-3.0% [large ROI] versus <0.1-1.5% [targeted ROI]). CONCLUSION: Changes in TWIST-derived DCE-MRI kinetic parameters of up to 9-15% may be attributable to measurement error. Large DCE-MRI regions of interest are the most reproducible across multiple readers.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in a North American population: does hepatobiliary MR imaging with Gd-EOB-DTPA improve sensitivity and confidence for diagnosis?

PURPOSE: To evaluate the value of hepatobiliary phase imaging for detection and characterization of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in liver MRI with Gd-EOB-DTPA, in a North American population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred MRI examinations performed with the intravenous injection of Gd-EOB-DTPA in patients with cirrhosis were reviewed retrospectively. Nodules were classified as HCC (n = 70), indeterminate (n = 33), or benign (n = 22). Five readers independently reviewed each examination with and without hepatobiliary phase images (HBP). Lesion conspicuity scores were compared between the two readings. Lesion detection, confidence scores, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were compared. RESULTS: Lesion detection was slightly improved for all lesion types with the inclusion of the HBP, and was substantially higher for small HCCs (96.0% versus 85.3%). Mean confidence scores for the diagnosis of HCC increased for HCCs overall and each size category (P < 0.001). Diagnostic performance improved with the addition of the HBP (aggregate AROC 87.7% versus 80.0%, P < 0.01), and sensitivity for characterization improved (90.9% versus 78.3%, P < 0.01) while specificity was unchanged. CONCLUSION: Hepatobiliary phase imaging may improve small lesion detection (<1 cm) and characterization of lesions in general, in MRI of the cirrhotic liver with Gd-EOB-DTPA.

Reproducibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging. Part II. Comparison of intra- and interobserver variability with manual region of interest placement versus semiautomatic lesion segmentation and histogram analysis.

PURPOSE: To compare the inter- and intraobserver variability with manual region of interest (ROI) placement versus that with software-assisted semiautomatic lesion segmentation and histogram analysis with respect to quantitative dynamic contrast material-enhanced (DCE) MR imaging determinations of the volume transfer constant (K(trans)). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was approved by the institutional review board and compliant with HIPAA. The requirement to obtain informed consent was waived. Fifteen DCE MR imaging studies of the female pelvis defined the study group. Uterine fibroids were used as a perfusion model. Three varying types of lesion measurements were performed by five readers on each study by using DCE MR imaging perfusion analysis software with manual ROI placement and a semiautomatic lesion segmentation and histogram analysis solution. Intra- and interreader variability of measurements of K(trans) with the different measurement types was calculated. RESULTS: The overall interobserver variability of K(trans) with manual ROI placement (mean, 28.5% ± 9.3) was reduced by 42.5% when the semiautomatic, software-assisted lesion measurement method was used (16.4% ± 6.2). Whole-lesion measurement showed the lowest interobserver variability with both measurement methods (20.1% ± 4.3 with the manual method vs 10.8% ± 2.6 with the semiautomatic method). The overall intrareader variability with the manual ROI method (7.6% ± 10.6) was not significantly different from that with the semiautomatic method (7.3% ± 10.8), but the intraclass correlation coefficient for intrareader reproducibility improved from 0.86 overall with the manual method to 0.99 with the semiautomatic method. CONCLUSION: A semiautomatic lesion segmentation and histogram analysis approach can provide a significant reduction in interobserver variability for DCE MR imaging measurements of K(trans) when compared with manual ROI methods, whereas intraobserver reproducibility is improved to some extent.

Reproducibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging. Part I. Perfusion characteristics in the female pelvis by using multiple computer-aided diagnosis perfusion analysis solutions.

PURPOSE: To test the reproducibility of model-derived quantitative and semiquantitative pharmacokinetic parameters among various commercially available perfusion analysis solutions for dynamic contrast material-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was institutional review board approved and HIPAA compliant, with waiver of informed consent granted. The study group consisted of 15 patients (mean age, 44 years; range, 28-60 years), with 15 consecutive 1.5-T DCE MR imaging studies performed between October 1, 2010, and December 27, 2010, prior to uterine fibroid embolization. Studies were conducted by using variable-flip-angle T1 mapping and four-dimensional, time-resolved MR angiography with interleaved stochastic trajectories. Images from all DCE MR imaging studies were postprocessed with four commercially available perfusion analysis solutions by using a Tofts and Kermode model paradigm. Five observers measured pharmacokinetic parameters (volume transfer constant [K(trans)], v(e) [extracellular extravascular volume fraction], k(ep)[K(trans)/v(e)], and initial area under the gadolinium curve [iAUGC]) three times for each imaging study with each perfusion analysis solution (between March 13, 2011, and September 8, 2011) by using two different region-of-interest methods, resulting in 1800 data points. RESULTS: After normalization of data output, significant differences in mean values were found for the majority of perfusion analysis solution combinations. The within-subject coefficient of variation among perfusion analysis solutions was 48.3%-68.8% for K(trans), 37.2%-60.3% for k(ep), 27.7%-74.1% for v(e), and 25.1%-61.2% for iAUGC. The intraclass correlation coefficient revealed only poor to moderate consistency among pairwise perfusion analysis solution comparisons (K(trans), 0.33-0.65; k(ep), 0.02-0.81; v(e), -0.03 to 0.72; and iAUGC, 0.47-0.78). CONCLUSION: A considerable variability for DCE MR imaging pharmacokinetic parameters (K(trans), k(ep), v(e), iAUGC) was found among commercially available perfusion analysis solutions. Therefore, clinical comparability across perfusion analysis solutions is currently not warranted. Agreement on a postprocessing standard is paramount prior to establishing DCE MR imaging as a widely incorporated biomarker.

Functional evaluation of cystic duct patency with Gd-EOB-DTPA MR imaging: an alternative to hepatobiliary scintigraphy for diagnosis of acute cholecystitis?

PURPOSE: To determine if MR cholangiography with Gd-EOB-DTPA can be used to assess cystic duct patency and to establish normal time range for reflux of contrast material into the cystic duct/gallbladder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study is HIPAA-compliant and IRB-approved with waiver for informed consent granted. From September 2008 to June 2009, 300 patients who underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging for various clinical indications, not specifically limited to evaluation for acute cholecystitis, were identified. 112 patients were excluded: prior cholecystectomy (n = 93), severe technical limitations (n = 9), or absence of appropriate clinical follow-up (n = 10). 188 total patients (82 male, 106 female, mean age 51.0 years) were included in the final dataset. Time between contrast administration and contrast reflux into the cystic duct/gallbladder on delayed phase imaging was measured. RESULTS: Reflux of contrast into the gallbladder was identified in 130/188 patients (69.1%) on delayed phase imaging. Average time to gallbladder reflux was 15:24 ± 5:51 minutes (range: 6:01-41:05 min). 58/188 patients (30.9%) demonstrated no reflux of contrast into the gallbladder at time of final delayed phase images. Of 58 patients who demonstrated no reflux into cystic duct/gallbladder, 15 patients demonstrated no extrahepatic biliary excretion, limiting evaluation of cystic duct patency. A total of 173 patients demonstrated biliary excretion of contrast with 76% overall sensitivity of detection of cystic duct patency. CONCLUSION: MR cholangiography with hepatobiliary MR contrast agents such as Gd-EOB-DTPA can demonstrate cystic duct patency with high sensitivity. MR protocols can be designed within a clinically feasible timeframe to optimize diagnosis of acute cholecystitis.

Effectiveness of a three-dimensional dual gradient echo two-point Dixon technique for the characterization of adrenal lesions at 3 Tesla.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of fat-only datasets reconstructed using a two-point Dixon technique, with corresponding opposed-phase (OP) and in-phase (IP) datasets for characterization of adrenal lesions at 3 Tesla (T). METHODS: Fifty-nine patients (21 male, 38 female) with 66 adrenal lesions (49 adenomas, 17 nonadenomas) underwent 3D dual gradient-echo 3-T adrenal MR imaging with reconstruction of OP/IP and fat/water datasets. Sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy were compared between OP/IP datasets, using the signal intensity index (SII), and fat/water datasets, using the fat fraction and fat ratio. Four radiologists qualitatively assessed OP/IP and fat-only datasets for reader confidence in lesion characterization and image quality. RESULTS: There were significant differences between adenomas and nonadenomas with regard to mean SII, fat fraction, and fat ratio (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in mean diagnostic accuracy among different evaluation methods using OP/IP and fat/water datasets. Mean readers' scores for lesion characterization were significantly higher for adenomas than for nonadenomas using OP/IP and fat-only datasets. There was no significant difference between the two datasets regarding mean readers' scores for image quality. CONCLUSION: Fat-only images can readily differentiate adrenal adenomas from nonadenomas, with diagnostic accuracy comparable to OP/IP images.

Hepatic MR imaging for in vivo differentiation of steatosis, iron deposition and combined storage disorder: single-ratio in/opposed phase analysis vs. dual-ratio Dixon discrimination.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether in vivo dual-ratio Dixon discrimination can improve detection of diffuse liver disease, specifically steatosis, iron deposition and combined disease over traditional single-ratio in/opposed phase analysis. METHODS: Seventy-one patients with biopsy-proven (17.7 ± 17.0 days) hepatic steatosis (n = 16), iron deposition (n = 11), combined deposition (n = 3) and neither disease (n = 41) underwent MR examinations. Dual-echo in/opposed-phase MR with Dixon water/fat reconstructions were acquired. Analysis consisted of: (a) single-ratio hepatic region-of-interest (ROI)-based assessment of in/opposed ratios; (b) dual-ratio hepatic ROI assessment of in/opposed and fat/water ratios; (c) computer-aided dual-ratio assessment evaluating all hepatic voxels. Disease-specific thresholds were determined; statistical analyses assessed disease-dependent voxel ratios, based on single-ratio (a) and dual-ratio (b and c) techniques. RESULTS: Single-ratio discrimination succeeded in identifying iron deposition (I/O(Ironthreshold)<0.88) and steatosis (I/O(Fatthreshold>1.15)) from normal parenchyma, sensitivity 70.0%; it failed to detect combined disease. Dual-ratio discrimination succeeded in identifying abnormal hepatic parenchyma (F/W(Normalthreshold)>0.05), sensitivity 96.7%; logarithmic functions for iron deposition (I/O(Irondiscriminator)e((F/W(Fat)-0.01)/0.48)) differentiated combined from isolated diseases, sensitivity 100.0%; computer-aided dual-ratio analysis was comparably sensitive but less specific, 90.2% vs. 97.6%. CONCLUSION: MR two-point-Dixon imaging using dual-ratio post-processing based on in/opposed and fat/water ratios improved in vivo detection of hepatic steatosis, iron deposition, and combined storage disease beyond traditional in/opposed analysis.

Hepatic hemangiomas: difference in enhancement pattern on 3T MR imaging with gadobenate dimeglumine versus gadoxetate disodium.

PURPOSE: To compare intraindividual differences in enhancement pattern of hepatic hemangiomas between gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA) and gadoxetate disodium (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced 3T MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a HIPAA-compliant, IRB-approved retrospective study with waiver for informed consent granted. From 10/07 to 5/09, 10 patients (2 males, 8 females; mean age, 57.3 years) with 15 hepatic hemangiomas (mean diameter, 4.4 ± 5.6 cm) underwent both Gd-BOPTA- and Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced 3T MR imaging (mean interval, 266 days; range, 38-462 days). Diagnosis of hemangioma was based on strict imaging criteria. MR imaging was obtained during three arterial, portal venous, and up to four delayed phases. During each phase, hemangioma-to-liver contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was measured for each lesion on both examinations. Statistical analysis was performed using paired Student's t-test. RESULTS: Hemangioma-to-liver CNR peaked during the portal venous phase (Gd-BOPTA: 48.9 ± 65.8, Gd-EOB-DTPA: 0.7 ± 3.8). During all imaging phases except the first arterial phase, hemangioma-to-liver CNR was significantly lower on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced compared to Gd-BOPTA-enhanced MR images (p<0.05). Notably, Gd-EOB-DTPA yielded negative hemangioma-to-liver CNR (-2.5 ± 2.4) compared to Gd-BOPTA (40.7 ± 56.4) during the first delayed phase (7-8 min after contrast administration), remaining negative for the rest of the delayed phases (up to 26 min after contrast administration). CONCLUSION: The enhancement patterns of hepatic hemangiomas differs significantly between Gd-BOPTA and Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced 3T MR imaging. The smaller dose, shorter plasma half-life, and increased hepatobiliary uptake of Gd-EOB-DTPA leads to a negative CNR of hemangioma-to-liver on delayed phases and could create an imaging pitfall with this agent.

Consensus report of the 4th International Forum for Gadolinium-Ethoxybenzyl-Diethylenetriamine Pentaacetic Acid Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

This paper reports on issues relating to the optimal use of gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid magnetic resonance imaging (Gd-EOB-DTPA MR imaging) together with the generation of consensus statements from a working group meeting, which was held in Seoul, Korea (2010). Gd-EOB-DTPA has been shown to improve the detection and characterization of liver lesions, and the information provided by the hepatobiliary phase is proving particularly useful in differential diagnoses and in the characterization of small lesions (around 1-1.5 cm). Discussion also focused on advances in the role of organic anion-transporting polypeptide 8 (OATP8) transporters. Gd-EOB-DTPA is also emerging as a promising tool for functional analysis, enabling the calculation of post-surgical liver function in the remaining segments. Updates to current algorithms were also discussed.