Tumor-detecting capacity and clinical usefulness of SPIO-MRI in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

The tumor-detecting capacity and clinical usefulness of superparamagnetic i ron oxide (SPIO) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were examined in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The tumor detection rate of SPIO-MRI (64.5% ) was comparable to those of dynamic computed tomography (CT) and plain MRI , but lower than that for Od dynamic MRI (93.5%; P < 0.01%). A combination of Gd dynamic MRI and SPIO-MRI improved the detection rate; further, the tu mor stage with respect to tumor blood-how pattern was predicted by combinin g plain MRI with SPIO-MRI. This combination procedure map also be useful fo r selecting therapeutic strategies.