Clinical Research
Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 28, 2007; 13(36): 4891-4896
Published online Sep 28, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i36.4891
Ferucarbotran versus Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging in the detection of focal hepatic lesions
Wei-Zhong Cheng, Meng-Su Zeng, Fu-Hua Yan, Shen-Xiang Rao, Ji-Zhang Shen, Cai-Zhong Chen, Shu-Jie Zhang, Wei-Bin Shi
Wei-Zhong Cheng, Meng-Su Zeng, Fu-Hua Yan, Shen-Xiang Rao, Ji-Zhang Shen, Cai-Zhong Chen, Shu-Jie Zhang, Wei-Bin Shi, Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University and Department of Medical Imaging, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Meng-Su Zeng, Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, 180 Fenglin Rd, Shanghai 200032, China. zms@zshospital.net
Telephone: +86-21-64041990-2130 Fax: +86-21-64037258
Received: March 27, 2007
Revised: May 12, 2007
Accepted: May 12, 2007
Published online: September 28, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of ferucarbotran-enhanced MR imaging in the detection of focal hepatic lesions compared to plain and Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging.

METHODS: Fifty-nine patients with suspected focal hepatic lesions were admitted to the study. Plain MR imaging (FSE T2WI with fat suppression and GRE T1WI sequences) and Gd-DTPA dynamic enhanced MR of the liver were initially performed followed by ferucarbotran-enhanced MR imaging 48 h later (including GRE T1WI, FSE T2WI with fat suppression, and GRE T2*WI sequences). Images were reviewed independently by three observers. Results were correlated with surgery and pathologic examination or reference examination, and sensitivity was statistically calculated for the different MR imaging sequences.

RESULTS: Among all confirmed lesions (n = 133), ferucarbotran-enhanced MR imaging revealed 130 lesions on FSE T2WI with fat suppression, 115 lesions on dynamic T1WI GRE, and 127 lesions on GRE T2*WI. Pre-contrast MR imaging revealed only 84 lesions on GRE T1WI and 106 lesions on FSE T2WI with fat suppression, while Gd-DTPA dynamic enhanced GRE T1WI revealed 123 lesions. For 44 micro-lesions (< 1.0 cm) in all patients the detection rates were as follows: ferucarbotran-enhanced FSE T2WI with fat suppression, 93.2% (41/44); ferucarbotran-enhanced GRE T2*WI, 88.6% (39/44); Gd-DTPA dynamic-enhanced GRE T1WI, 79.5% (35/44); pre-contrast FSE T2WI with fat suppression, 54.5% (24/44); and pre-contrast GRE T1WI, 34.1% (15/44). In detecting micro-lesions, statistically significant difference was found for Ferucarbotran-enhanced FSE T2WI with fat suppression and GRE T2*WI sequences compared to the other sequences (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Ferucarbotran-enhanced FSE T2WI with fat suppression and GRE T2*WI sequences are superior in detecting micro-lesions (< 1 cm) in comparison with plain and Gd-DTPA dynamic-enhanced MR imaging.

Keywords: Liver disease; Contrast media; Superpara-magnetic iron oxide; Magnetic resonance imaging