Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced hepatobiliary phase MRI characteristics of inflammatory hepatic adenoma

To investigate the imaging characteristics of the hepatocyte-specific contrast agent gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) in inflammatory hepatocellular adenoma.

The clinical data and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) manifestations of 13 patients with pathologically confirmed I-HCA were retrospectively analyzed. There were 10 males and 3 females with an average age of 33.1 ± 10.7years. All patients underwent enhanced MR examination with Gd-EOB-DTPA (a hepatocyte-specific contrast agent). Image analysis included the number, location, size, morphology, plain scan signal, enhancement characteristics, and hepatobiliary-specific phase (HBP). The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the lesions and surrounding normal liver parenchyma were measured on the ADC map, and the difference was compared by paired sample t-test.

In this study, CRP showed a high rate of positive results; there was positive reactivity for CD34 in all patients. Among the 13 cases, 8 cases were single and 5 were multiple, for a total of 26 lesions. The margins of the lesions were all clear, and mostly round or oval; T1WI showed equal or high signal, T2WI showed high signal, DWI showed high signal, the arterial phase was highly enhanced, and the portal phase was not clear. 21 lesions in the hepatobiliary-specific phase had no uptake. The atoll sign was present in only 12% of cases. There was no significant difference between the average ADC value of the lesion and the average ADC value of the adjacent normal liver parenchyma (P = 0.620). The study revealed positive reactivity for C-reactive protein (CRP) and CD34.

The Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced hepatobiliary phase MRI of I-HCA exhibits certain characteristic features, which serve as an aid in the diagnosis of the disease.