MR imaging of the liver in primary hepatocellular carcinoma

In 10 patients with hepatoma, magnetic resonance (MR) and CT of the liver were subjectively compared and correlated with surgical or autopsy findings. In five cases MR defined the extent of the tumor better. Magnetic resonance was particularly useful in differentiating the tumor from otherwise abnormal areas of the liver, mostly focal cirrhosis. Magnetic resonance has the advantage of demonstrating major vessels in relation to the hepatoma without injection of any contrast agent. Calcifications well visualized on CT are not seen on MR. The lack of dynamic bolus CT in the majority of our cases as well as our inability to examine the entire liver with all three MR pulse sequences because of time restraint are significant limitations of this retrospective study.