Ferucarbotran versus Gd-DTPA-enhanced MR imaging in the detection of focal hepatic lesions

Figure 1 Images of HCC. A: The lesion appears hyperintense on the pre-contrast T2WI FSE image; B: The lesion appears hypointense on the pre-contrast T1WI GRE image; C: The lesion enhances inhomogeneously during the hepatic arterial phase; D: Ring-enhancement is observed during the portal venous phase; E, F: Dynamic T1WI GRE images obtained after administration of ferucarbotran show ring-enhancement of an asymmetric moderately hyperintense lesion; G, H: A markedly hyperintense lesion with surrounding hypointense liver parenchyma is shown during the accumulation phase on ferucarbotran-enhanced T2WI and T2*WI images.

Figure 2 Liver metastasis from mammary adenocarcinoma. A, B: Only one lesion (black arrow) was found on the pre-contrast T2WI and T1WI GRE images; C, D: Only one lesion (black arrow) was found on dynamic T1WI GRE images obtained after administration of Gd-DTPA; E, F: An additional small metastasis (0.3 mm, white arrow) was detected on T2WI and T2*WI images during the accumulation phase.

Figure 3 HCC image. A: The lesion appears hyperintense on the pre-contrast T2WI FSE image, but is not clearly delineated; B: The lesion is markedly enhanced during the hepatic arterial phase; C: The lesion appears hypointence during the portal venous phase, but is not clearly delineated; D: The main lesion and satellite nodules are clearly delineated from the surrounding hypointense liver parenchyma on the ferucarbotran-enhanced T2WI image during the accumulation phase.