Magnetization transfer magnetic resonance imaging of hepatic tumors

Abstract EN

Magnetization transfer (MT) technique provides a new type of MR imaging contrast based on biochemical properties due to magnetization interaction between bulk water protons and macromolecular protons.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the significance of MT as a new technique in assessment of focal hepatic tumors.

This work included 6 volunteers as a control group for determination of MT values and 25 patients with pathologically proven focal hepatic tumors.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the signal intensities of the liver parenchyma as well as the liver tumors were done both before and after gadolinium enhancement.

MT Gradient Recalled Echo (GRE) combined with gadolinium enhancement has significantly increased the lesion to liver contrast ratio in cases of hepatic haemangioma and metastatic adenocarcinomas whereas in cases of hepatocellular carcinoma enhanced MR (GRE) imaging showed equivocal results and has no significant superiority over conventional imaging sequences.