[Siderotic regenerating nodules in liver cirrhosis--evaluation by gradient echo (FLASH) imaging 1.5T]

In three patients with histologically proven liver cirrhosis, a large number of small, low-intensity nodule(SLIN)s was clearly seen on gradient echo(GRE) images which are sensitive to field inhomogeneity. A histological study revealed that the SLINs corresponded to the regenerating nodules, laden with iron, of liver cirrhosis. As TE was prolonged, the SLINs increased in size in all three cases and fused with each other in one of three cases on GRE images. This phenomenon suggests that the magnetic susceptibility effect due to iron included in the regenerating nodules is the cause for the regenerating nodules shown as SLINs on GRE images, and that one SLIN does not always correspond to one regenerating nodule. We conclude that GRE images should be considered important for diagnosis of regenerating nodules in liver cirrhosis.