Hepatic MR imaging with a dynamic contrast-enhanced isotropic volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination: Feasibility, reproducibility, and technical quality

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility, reproducibility, and technical qualit y of a dynamic contrast material-enhanced isotropic three-dimensional (3D) volumetric interpolated breath-hold hepatic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging examination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients underwent 3D spoiled gradient-echo im aging (4.2/1.8 [repetition time msec/echo time msec]; flip angle, 12 degree s; interpolation in three directions; intermittent fat saturation; pixel si ze less than or equal to 2.5 mm in all dimensions) before and dynamically a fter administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine, with the first enhanced a cquisition timed for hepatic arterial dominance by using a test bolus of co ntrast material. Qualitative and quantitative measures of image quality wer e determined. Patterns of arterial and venous anatomy were assessed. Ten pa tients (20%) underwent repeat imaging within 6 months, and reproducibility was evaluated. RESULTS: Hepatic contrast-to-noise ratios for nonenhanced and arterial, por tal venous, and equilibrium phase studies averaged 13.0 +/- 12.6 (SD), 17.4 +/- 11.8, 30.4 +/- 16.2, and 28.6 +/- 21.1, respectively. During arterial phase, the liver enhanced a mean of 29% of the maximal enhancement as measu red during portal Venous phase: Hepatic vascular anatomic variants were com parable in distribution to those cited in published articles. Repeat studie s were not significantly different in image quality when compared with orig inal studies. CONCLUSION: High-quality arterial phase 3D volumetric interpolated breath-h old images can be obtained reliably and reproducibly when timed by using a test dose of contrast material.