HEPATIC METASTASES - COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY VERSUS MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING IN 1997

The developments in computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (M R) imaging that have taken place over the last two decades have dramat ically increased our ability to detect and characterize focal liver le sions, and have led to the liver becoming the primary focus of interes t in abdominal imaging. At the same time, advances in the medical and surgical treatment of secondary liver tumors have continued to be a ch allenge to these advances in radiology. It is dear that a successful o utcome depends on knowledge of the size and location of the tumor burd en, and accurate radiological assessment is crucial in identifying the subgroups of patients who may benefit from surgery and, at the same t ime, in preventing unnecessary radical surgery, with its high morbidit y, in those likely to gain only a short-term benefit. The current peri od of limited resources, along with increased awareness of the effects of ionizing radiation, has led to competition between the two modalit ies, with considerable debate as to which offers the better noninvasiv e examination of the liver, particularly with regard to the detection and characterization of focal liver lesions. Arguments over each metho ds relative merits have tended to be overstated, but the parallel use of different diagnostic techniques is costly and inefficient. Each nee ds to be placed in an appropriate position on diagnostic pathways.