Related Experiment Videos
Malignant hepatic tumor detection with ferumoxides-enhanced MR imaging with a 1.5-T system: comparison of four
M Kanematsu1, K Itoh, M Matsuo
1Department of Radiology, Gifu University School of Medicine, Gifu 500-8705, Japan. masa-gif@umin.ac.jp
Abstract:
The purpose of our study was to compare observer performance in the detection of malignant hepatic tumors with ferumoxides-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) images obtained with proton density-weighted spin-echo (SE), T2-weighted fast SE, T2*-weighted gradient-recalled-echo (GRE), and proton density-weighted echo-planar (EP) sequences. Ferumoxides-enhanced MR images obtained with the four sequences in 50 patients with 92 solid malignant and 64 nonsolid benign lesions were retrospectively analyzed. Image review was conducted on a segment-by-segment basis; a total of 397 liver segments was reviewed separately for solid and nonsolid lesions by three independent readers. Observer performance was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic analysis. Lesion-to-liver contrast-to-noise ratio was higher with SE and EP than with GRE and fast SE images for solid lesions (P < 0.05), and higher with fast SE and SE than with GRE images for nonsolid lesions (P < 0.01). Proton density-weighted SE and T2-weighted fast-SE images were superior to T2*-weighted GRE and proton density-weighted EP images for detection of malignant hepatic tumors. T2-weighted fast SE images were the best for detection of nonsolid lesions. T2-weighted fast SE images that were comparable to proton density-weighted SE images for solid tumor detection, that were the best for nonsolid lesion detection, and that had an acquisition time of one third to half of that of SE imaging may be able to replace SE images for ferumoxides-enhanced liver imaging.
Insights
T2-weighted fast spin-echo (SE) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is superior for detecting malignant liver tumors and nonsolid lesions. This sequence may replace conventional SE imaging for ferumoxides-enhanced liver scans due to its speed and efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Hepatology
Background:
- Ferumoxides are iron oxide nanoparticles used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.
- Accurate detection of hepatic tumors is crucial for patient management and treatment planning.
- Various MR imaging sequences have different sensitivities and specificities for lesion detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare observer performance in detecting malignant hepatic tumors using ferumoxides-enhanced MR images.
- To evaluate four different MR imaging sequences: proton density-weighted spin-echo (SE), T2-weighted fast SE, T2*-weighted gradient-recalled-echo (GRE), and proton density-weighted echo-planar (EP).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of ferumoxides-enhanced MR images from 50 patients with 92 solid malignant and 64 nonsolid benign lesions.
- Three independent readers evaluated 397 liver segments.
- Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess observer performance and lesion-to-liver contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR).
Main Results:
- Proton density-weighted SE and T2-weighted fast SE images demonstrated superior performance for detecting malignant hepatic tumors compared to T2*-weighted GRE and proton density-weighted EP images.
- T2-weighted fast SE images were optimal for detecting nonsolid lesions.
- Lesion-to-liver CNR was higher with SE and EP for solid lesions, and with fast SE and SE for nonsolid lesions.
Conclusions:
- T2-weighted fast SE sequences offer a promising alternative to conventional SE imaging for ferumoxides-enhanced liver MR imaging.
- This sequence provides comparable performance for solid tumor detection and superior performance for nonsolid lesion detection.
- The faster acquisition time of T2-weighted fast SE sequences enhances clinical utility.