MRI OF HEPATIC SCHISTOSOMIASIS-MANSONI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in a patient with hepat ic schistosomiasis mansoni. On T1-weighted images periportal zones app eared isointense to the surrounding liver, but strongly enhanced after injection of Gd-DTPA. This finding equals periportal enhancement in p ostcontrast CT studies and does not discriminate between periportal in flammation in early stages of the disease and portal venous and hepati c artery collaterals in late stages of periportal fibrosis. However, o n T2-weighted images periportal zones appeared as high signal bands th roughout the liver suggesting periportal inflammatory changes with ede ma. Thus T2-weighted spin echo sequences should be performed and may b e helpful to assess activity of periportal inflammation.,