HEPATIC TUMORS - DETECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION AT 1-T MR-IMAGING ENHANCED WITH AMI-25

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ability of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging en hanced with AMI-25 to depict and characterize hepatic tumors. MATERIAL S AND METHODS: Sixty-four patients (41 men and 23 women, aged 24-65 ye ars [mean, 55 years]) underwent 1-T MR imaging: 22 had metastatic dise ase; 10, hepatocellular carcinoma; seven, hemangioma; three, focal nod ular hyperplasia; three, gallbladder adenocarcinoma; two, lymphoma; on e, adenoma; and 16, no tumor. Pre- and postcontrast images (alone and in combination) were analyzed by three independent radiologists. Recei ver operating characteristic curves were constructed to compare tumor characterization. RESULTS: Signal intensity was decreased in all benig n tumors but not in malignant tumors. The number of tumors depicted (n onenhanced images, 657 tumors; enhanced, 753; and combined, 760) was n ot statistically different. Receiver operating characteristic curves d id not show improved characterization with AMI-25.CONCLUSION: AMI-25 d oes not improve depiction of hepatic tumors. Although characterization of hepatic tumors was not improved with AMI-25, uptake of AMI-25 seem s specific for hepatic tumors at MR imaging.