Current status of superparamagnetic iron oxide contrast agents for liver magnetic resonance imaging

Core Tip

Core tip: Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle for liver imaging was conceptualized when the speed of both single-slice computed tomography (CT) scan and multiple-slice magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was slow. It was difficult to accurately observe the “wash-in” and “wash-out” of liver lesion blood flow dynamics. However, recently spiral CT and later multi-slice CT revolutionized liver imaging. MRI scan is also currently much faster due to the improved gradient technology and fast data acquisition sequences. These techniques increased the sensitivity and specificity of dynamic imaging using small molecular agents such as iodinated CT contrast agents and Gadolinium based MRI contrast agents. Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced liver MRI is currently emerging as the leading method for diagnosis and staging of hepatocellular carcinoma.