Lesion/fat intensity ratio in MR characterization of hepatic masses

On T2-weighted spin echo images, lesion/liver intensity ratios can be used to accurately distinguish hepatic cavernous hemangioma from malignant lesions. However, since patients with focal liver lesions may present diffuse liver disease, this relationship can be inaccurate. We studied 91 hepatic lesions to compare the value of lesion/liver and lesion/fat ratios in the differential diagnosis of liver lesions. In doubtful cases the use of lesion/fat intensity ratio can be used to improve accuracy in the diagnosis of liver lesions. The combination of both ratios into a single diagnostic index gave a correct classification of malignant versus hemangioma in 92.3% of the cases.