Abstract:

Objective  To explore the role of some quantitative parameters of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) at 3.0 Tesla in differential diagnosis of hepatic masses. Methods  DCE-MRI was performed on 113 patients with hepatic masses. The curve types of DCEMRI and some quantitative parameters including the maximum slop of increase (MSI), signal enhancement ratio (SER), positive enhancement integral (PEI), maximum slop of decrease (MSD), and peak value (PV) of hepatic masses were measured. The differences of the curve types and quantitative parameters in different hepatic masses were compared and analyzed. Results  There were significant differences in enhanced curve type between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other masses except for focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH), between metastases and hemangioma FNH, as well as hepatic abscess, and between FNH and hemangioma as well as hepatic abscess (P<0.05). Also, there were significant differences in MSI, PEI, MSD, and PV between hemangioma and other masses, between HCC and other masses except for FNH, between FNH and metastases, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, as well as hepatic abscess, and between metastases and hepatic abscess (P<0.05). However, no difference in SER of the  six kinds of hepatic masses was found (P>0.05). Conclusion  There are some differences in enhanced curve types and quantitative parameters of DCE-MRI of  hepatic masses, and the combination of these two methods may be helpful for the differential diagnosis of hepatic masses.

Key words: Hepatic mass; Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging; Differential diagnosis