Comparison studies of CT and MRI in patients with hepatic metastases

The increasing use of systemic and directed liver therapy for patients with hepatic metastases has created a demand for improved accuracy of noninvasive imaging techniques. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the most common studies used for imaging the liver in oncology patients. Both modalities have undergone substantial technical improvement in the past decade, and it is often unclear which technique is better suited to specific clinical circumstances. This article will review the major recent developments in each modality, including dual-phase spiral CT, CT angiography, ultrafast MRI, and MRI enhanced with liver-specific contrast agents. Studies that directly compared state-of-the-art CT and MRI will be emphasized. This review will give the reader a better understanding of the capabilities and limitations of these techniques and will clarify which is best used for specific clinical situations.