CHONDROITIN SULFATE IRON COLLOID AS MR CONTRAST AGENT IN DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA AND ADENOMATOUS HYPERPLASIA

Using a 1.5 T MR imaging unit, T1- and T2-weighted images were obtaine d before and after i.v. administration of chondroitin sulfate iron col loid (CSIC) in order to differentiate hepatocellular carcinoma (n=20) from adenomatous hyperplasia without atypia (n=16). Differentiation wa s made from the tumor-liver contrast to noise ratio (CNR) and visual e valuation of the nodule, with reference to signal intensity relative t o that of the surrounding liver. The CNR of adenomatous hyperplasia wa s on T1-weighted images significantly decreased after CSIC administrat ion (p < 0.01). On T2-weighted images, there was no significant differ ence in CNR after CSIC administration. On the other hand, the CNR of h epatocellular carcinoma was significantly increased after CSIC adminis tration on both T1- and T2-weighted images (p < 0.01). CSIC reflects i ntratumor reticuloendothelial cellular functions, and is therefore use ful in differentiating hepatocellular carcinoma from adenomatous hyper plasia without atypia.