Magnetic resonance imaging of hepatic neoplasms

Excellent diagnostic images of the liver can now be obtained with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) because of new imaging techniques. The flow void phenomenon allows excellent anatomic detail of the liver. Morphologic features, comparison of tumor signal to normal parenchymal signal, and tumor behavior in various pulse sequences help to define liver tumors. The MRI characteristics of primary hepatomas, cavernous hemangiomas, hepatic cysts, liver adenomas, and focal nodular hyperplasia are among the hepatic lesions described. In most instances, MRI helps in differential considerations and in some cases will provide a specific diagnosis.