Hepatic metastases: detection with multisection FLASH MR imaging during gadolinium chelate-enhanced arterial portography.

Abstract

To determine the feasibility and sensitivity of multisection fast low-angle shot (FLASH) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the depiction of hepatic metastases. The cases of 10 patients with 39 surgically proved hepatic metastases were prospectively evaluated. After unenhanced T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo (SE) and FLASH imaging, 4 mL of a 0.5 mol/L solution of a gadolinium chelate (tetraazacyclododecanetetraacetic acid) was injected into the superior mesenteric artery during FLASH imaging in a single breath-holding period. No side effects were noted. With multisection FLASH MR arterial portography, tumor-to-liver contrast-to-noise ratio (34.5 +/- 4.4) was significantly increased compared with unenhanced MR imaging. Sensitivity was 74% (29 of 39) for combined SE and multisection FLASH imaging and 95% (37 of 39) for multisection FLASH MR arterial portography (McNemar test, P < .02). Multisection FLASH MR arterial portography is a safe, feasible, and sensitive technique with which to detect hepatic metastases.