DYNAMIC IR IMAGING OF LIVER-TUMORS - ANALYSIS WITH TEMPORAL RECONSTRUCTION IMAGES

PURPOSE: To graphically display the time dependency of contrast enhanc ement of liver tumors at examination with dynamic magnetic resonance ( MR) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A temporal reconstruction image wa s generated by obtaining a line of interest drawn on a single image th rough the liver and the tumor and reformatted over a sequence of tempo ral images. This calculated image expressed the temporal evolution of the line, including nontumoral liver and tumor, with regard to three v ariables: signal intensity, enhancement, and velocity. This allowed a visually integrated analysis of 95 hepatic lesions studied with dynami c single-section MR imaging after contrast material administration. RE SULTS: Temporal reconstruction images were obtained for all the dynami c studies. Five patterns of enhancement based on signal intensity and velocity variations coupled with morphologic information were found: w all, diffusion, moderate enhancement, marked progressive, and early in tense patterns. CONCLUSION: Temporal reconstruction of liver tumors af ter contrast material administration can be used to analyze, describe, and report the dynamics of lesion enhancement with morphologic and te mporal resolution.