Enhancement of liver hemangiomas on T1-weighted MR SE images by superparamagnetic iron oxide particles

J Comput Assist Tomogr. 1994 Nov-Dec;18(6):888-96. doi: 10.1097/00004728-199411000-00008.

Abstract

Objective: Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) particles are phagocytosed by cells of the macrophage-monocytic phagocytic system. They are usually used in MRI as a negative contrast agent, because of their strong T2* effect, to improve detection of tumors in the liver and spleen. However, they also have a potent T1 relaxivity. In the current study, we describe this T1 effect in liver hemangiomas.

Materials and methods: Twelve patients (nine women and three men, aged from 38 to 76 years) with liver hemangiomas were examined by means of MRI at 1.5 T before and after intravenous administration of SPIO particles at a dose of 15 mumol Fe/kg body wt. Signal intensity was measured from regions of interest.

Results: Whereas on postcontrast T2-weighted SE images the hemangiomas showed on average a signal drop of 20% (p = 0.011) and 49% (p = 0.001) (first and second echo, respectively), their signal increased by 106% (p = 0.001) on postcontrast T1-weighted SE images.

Conclusion: The T1 effect (signal enhancement) we observed in liver hemangiomas after infusion of SPIO particles could prove to be a useful new diagnostic feature that would help characterize these common lesions and differentiate them from other liver tumors.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Clinical Trial, Phase III
  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
  • Contrast Media* / administration & dosage
  • Dextrans
  • Female
  • Ferrosoferric Oxide
  • Hemangioma / diagnosis*
  • Hemangioma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Hyperplasia
  • Image Enhancement
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Iron* / administration & dosage
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / diagnosis
  • Liver Cirrhosis / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging* / methods
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxides* / administration & dosage
  • Suspensions

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Dextrans
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles
  • Oxides
  • Suspensions
  • Iron
  • ferumoxides
  • Ferrosoferric Oxide