DYNAMIC CONTRAST-ENHANCED MR-IMAGING OF THE LIVER - PARENCHYMAL ENHANCEMENT PATTERNS

A retrospective study of 164 patients undergoing dynamic contrast-enha nced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed to assess hepatic p arenchymal enhancement patterns and to correlate these patterns with h epatic function and disease. Rapid T-1-weighted images were acquired b efore and after gadolinium administration. Hepatic enhancement pattern s were analyzed blindly by two observers. Medical records were reviewe d to document known liver pathology and liver function test results. A total of 72% of patients had homogeneous enhancement of the liver par enchyma; 28% had heterogeneous enhancement. Of the latter group, 61% o f patients had enhancement conforming to segmental or lobar boundaries , Patients with heterogeneous enhancement patterns were more likely to have abnormal liver function test results and hepatic morphological a bnormalities on their MR examinations than patients with homogeneous e nhancement patterns. Heterogeneous hepatic enhancement on dynamic MR i mages is associated with a higher likelihood of liver disease and bioc hemical evidence of hepatic dysfunction than homogeneous enhancement.