CONTRAST-ENHANCED MR-IMAGING OF INTRAHEPATIC CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA

The unenhanced spin-echo T1-weighted images, contrast-enhanced (dynami c and conventional) T1-weighted images and spin-echo T2-weighted image s of 19 patients with histologically proven intrahepatic cholangiocarc inoma were reviewed. The results showed that typical intrahepatic chol angiocarcinoma presented as a large mass of low signal intensity on T1 -weighted images. On T2-weighted images tumours generally presented as high signal intensity masses. In five patients the rumours exhibited varying degrees of central hypointensity on T2-weighted images. On con trast-enhanced images, large tumours (diameter larger than 4 cm, n=14) typically showed peripheral enhancement with delayed or incomplete ce ntral filling. This pattern was seen most commonly. Smaller tumours (d iam, 2-4 cm, n=5) typically exhibited homogenous enhancement. On dynam ic studies, enhancement of the tumours showed a centripetal pattern. C omplete enhancement was observed in the small tumours. Among the large r lesions central sparing of the tumours was seen. It is concluded tha t contrast-enhanced MR imaging is useful in the diagnosis of intrahepa tic cholangiocarcinoma. The characteristic enhancing pattern of intrah epatic cholangiocarcinoma was seen less commonly in smaller tumours, D efinite differentiation from other liver masses in this case could be less certain.