HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Krinsky, G. A. Articles by Israel, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Krinsky, G. A. Articles by Israel, G. Social Bookmarking                      What's this? Hotlight (NEW!) What's Hotlight?

Nondysplastic Nodules That Are Hyperintense on T1-Weighted Gradient-Echo MR Imaging: Frequency in Cirrhotic Patients Undergoing Transplantation

¹ Both authors: Department of Radiology, NYU Medical Center, 530 First Ave., Basement Schwartz Bldg., New York, NY 10016.

OBJECTIVE. Our objective was to determine the frequency and MR imaging findings of nondysplastic nodules that are hyperintense on T1-weighted gradient-echo imaging in patients with cirrhosis who undergo liver transplantation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. Two observers retrospectively evaluated in-phase (4–5 msec), opposed-phase gradient-echo (2.0–2.4 msec), and turbo short tau inversion recovery (STIR) MR images in 68 patients with cirrhosis—but without dysplastic nodules or hepatocellular carcinoma—who underwent MR imaging at 1.5 T within 150 days before liver transplantation. The size, number, signal characteristics, and arterial enhancement pattern of nodules that appear hyperintense on T1-weighted gradient-echo images were evaluated as well as the presence or absence of signal loss on opposed-phase imaging. These imaging findings were correlated with pathologic findings of whole explanted livers.

RESULTS. Eleven (16%) of 68 patients had at least one nondysplastic nodule that was hyperintense on T1-weighted MR imaging. Three patients had diffuse nondysplastic hyperintense nodules (>10 nodules) measuring less than 0.5 cm, and the remaining eight patients had 22 nondysplastic hyperintense nodules ranging in size from 0.5 to 2.5 cm (mean, 1.2 cm), of which 13 were isointense and nine were hypointense on turbo STIR images. No lesion lost signal on opposed-phase imaging or enhanced during the hepatic arterial phase.

CONCLUSION. In cirrhotic patients undergoing liver transplantation, nondysplastic nodules that are hyperintense are common findings on T1-weighted gradient-echo MR imaging and do not lose signal intensity on opposed-phase imaging or enhance during the hepatic arterial phase. These nodules may be indistinguishable from dysplastic nodules.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. M. Willatt, H. K. Hussain, S. Adusumilli, and J. A. Marrero MR Imaging of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Cirrhotic Liver: Challenges and Controversies Radiology, May 1, 2008; 247(2): 311 - 330. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. C. Lauenstein, K. Salman, R. Morreira, T. Heffron, J. R. Spivey, E. Martinez, P. Sharma, and D. R. Martin Gadolinium-Enhanced MRI for Tumor Surveillance Before Liver Transplantation: Center-Based Experience Am. J. Roentgenol., September 1, 2007; 189(3): 663 - 670. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]