Delayed MR imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma enhanced by gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA)

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of gadobenate dimeg lumine [Gd-BOPTA)-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for evaluation o f hepatocellular carcinoma HCC. MR images were obtained in 14 patients with 31 HCC nodules as a part of a phase III clinical trial, T1- and T2-weighte d images were obtained before and after iv administration of 0.1 mmol/kg of Gd-BOPTA. Two blinded readers evaluated pre- and delayed postcontrast imag es separately for detection of tumor nodules, Quantitative measurements of signal-to-noise (SNR] and tumor/liver contrast-to-noise (CNR) ratios were a lso performed, A signal/intensity ratio was calculated, Tumor enhancement w ens correlated with histologic finding, Consensus agreement of precontrast T1- and TS-weighted images revealed 23/31 HCC nodules in 14 patients: postc ontrast T1-weighted images demonstrated 24/31 HCC nodules in the same numbe r of patients, Combining both pre- and postcontrast images, 27/31 lesions w ere detected, Four patients had four well-differentiated HCC nodules detect ed only on postcontrast images, while three well-differentiated lesions in two patients were only seen on precontrast images, Quantitative evaluation showed an SNR ratio increase in both liver parenchyma and HCC nodules, as w ell as a significant increase in the absolute CNR ratio on postcontrast T1- weighted gradient-recalled images (P < 0.05), Well-differentiated HCC lesio ns showed a greater enhancement than poorly differentiated HCC lesions. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc..