Focal hepatic lesions: differentiation with MR imaging at 0.5 T

Magnetic resonance (MR) examinations of 43 patients with 95 focal hepatic lesions (diameter, greater than 1 cm) were analyzed for lesion shape, homogeneity, and relative signal intensity compared with normal liver parenchyma, spleen, and skeletal muscle. On T1-weighted, balanced, and T2-weighted images, most metastases (74%), cavernous hemangiomas (76%), and cysts (82%) were smooth and round or oval, while the hepatocellular carcinomas all had irregular borders (40%) or were lobulated (60%). All lesions with irregular borders were malignant. Seventy percent of metastatic lesions, 85% of cavernous hemangiomas, and 100% of simple hepatic cysts were of homogeneous signal intensity, while 60% of hepatocellular carcinomas were inhomogeneous. Logistic regression analysis of multiple lesion characteristics showed that inhomogeneous lesions had a high likelihood of malignancy, while markedly hyperintense lesions had a very low probability of being malignant, regardless of other traits. Homogeneous lesions that were isointense or hyperintense compared with spleen on balanced images but were not markedly hyperintense on T2-weighted images also had a high likelihood of malignancy.     

Focal hepatic lesions: comparative MR imaging at 0.5 and 1.5 T

Twenty-nine patients with known or suspected malignancy were studied with identical T1-weighted (spin echo [SE] and inversion recovery [IR]) and T2-weighted SE magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at 0.5 and 1.5 T to evaluate the relative sensitivities of these sequences for detecting focal hepatic lesions. At 0.5 T, 98 lesions were detected with the IR sequence, 86 with the T1-weighted SE sequence, and 96 with the T2-weighted sequence. At 1.5 T, 93 lesions were detected with the IR sequence, 70 with the T1-weighted SE sequence, and 99 with the T2-weighted sequence. Although the lack of pathologic correlation precluded establishment of true sensitivity and specificity rates, data showed that magnetic field strength resulted in no significant difference for detecting focal hepatic lesions. No single sequence was shown to be significantly superior, although the T1-weighted SE sequence at 1.5 T was significantly inferior to the other sequences for detecting focal hepatic lesions. T1-weighted SE imaging at 0.5 T was significantly inferior to T1-weighted IR and T2-weighted imaging at both magnetic field strengths for detecting focal lesions in the left lobe of the liver. The authors conclude that T1-weighted IR and T2-weighted sequences alone will result in optimal MR imaging for the detection of focal hepatic lesions at 0.5 and 1.5 T.     

Multimodality preoperative imaging of pancreatic insulinomas

Pancreatic insulinomas are rare tumours of the islet cells of the pancreas, which account for the majority of functional neuroendocrine tumours of the pancreas. There is often a typical history of recurrent hypoglycaemic collapse and dizzy spells. Insulinomas are usually solitary, and the vast majority are intra-pancreatic in location. They are characteristically small with approximately 66% being less than 2cm at presentation. Insulinomas continue to pose a diagnostic challenge to physicians, surgeons and radiologists alike. The role of imaging is to detect and provide precise anatomical localization and staging of tumours prior to surgery. Due to their small size at clinical presentation, they are notoriously difficult to localize radiologically, and specifically designed protocols are necessary to aid detection. In this review, we describe the current "state of the art" imaging protocols that may be used in the preoperative localization of insulinomas.     

Bone marrow lesions: evaluation with fat-suppression turbo spin echo MR imaging at 0.5 T

The purpose of this study was the assessment of the diagnostic value of fat-suppression T2-weighted images for a variety of bone marrow lesions. We performed 40 studies of the axial or appendicular skeleton in 33 patients (age range 4–80 years) with neoplastic, inflammatory or traumatic lesions with a 0.5 T system (Glyroscan T5, Philips Medical Systems, Best, The Netherlands). Fat-suppression T2-weighted images [turbo spin echo (TSE) with spectral presaturation with inversion recovery (SPIR)] were obtained in addition to the routine T1-weighted SE and T2-weighted TSE sequences. Fat-suppression TSE T2-weighted images were better than standard TSE T2-weighted images in 25 studies. In 11 of them demonstration and characterization of the lesions (known from T1-weighted images) was possible only after fat suppression In the other 14 patients demonstration of the full extent of the lesion especially to the nearby soft tissues was possible only after fat suppression. In 13 studies no advantage was conferred by SPIR, whereas in two instances T2-weighted images were better. Fat-suppression T2-weighted images are diagnostically usefull in a variety of lesions of the musculoskeletal system, but their limitations should be known.Correspondence to: H. Chrysikopoulos     

Intracranial hemorrhagic lesions: evaluation with spin-echo and gradient-refocused MR imaging at 0.5 and 1.5 T

Twenty patients with intracranial hemorrhage were examined with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at 0.5 and 1.5 T within 2 hours on the two imagers for lesions less than 30 days old and within 24 hours for lesions older than 30 days. MR studies included T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo (SE) and T2*-weighted gradient-refocused (GR) pulse sequences at each field strength. The number of lesions identified and the characteristics (ie, signal intensity of the margin, body, and core) of each hemorrhagic lesion were assessed and compared by means of the three pulse sequences at each field strength. Lesion depiction and characterization were superior (P less than .01) at 1.5 T with T2-weighted SE sequences. Improved depiction and characterization of lesions 300 or more days old (P less than .01) accounted for this result. With the GR sequence, depiction and characterization were similar at both field strengths. The GR sequence did not provide significant additional information about hemorrhage at 1.5 T in this series, but it improved depiction and characterization of hemorrhage at 0.5 T.     

Incidentally discovered adrenal masses: evaluation with Gadolinium enhancement and fat-suppressed MR imaging at 0.5 T

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the ability of Gd-enhancement and fat-suppressed MR imaging operating at midfield strength to characterize incidentally discovered adrenal masses. Sixty patients with 72 adrenal masses incidentally discovered during US or CT exams were studied with a 0.51 MR unit following clinical and laboratory evaluation. After Gd-DTPA intravenous administration a modified three-point Dixon technique was performed in all patients. This technique provided three images sets: conventional T1-weighted SE images, fat-suppressed T1-weighted images and water-suppressed T1-weighted images. Diagnosis was established by means of surgery (11 lesions), fineneedle biopsy (21 lesions) and stability on ultrasonographic follow-up for at least 1 year (range, 12–87 months) from adrenal lesion discovery (40 masses). In most of adenomas (n = 55) an homogeneous enhancement was observed on postcontrast T1WI; however, 15 out of these lesions showed a small focal spot of high intensity in Gd-enhanced fat-suppressed images. On the contrary, malignant conditions (n = 6) and pheochromocytoma (n = 1), all had inhomogeneous signal intensities which were relatively higher after Gadolinium injection as compared with the liver. The fat suppression technique demonstrated areas of bright signal intensity related to high vascularity. The performance of three observers in order to differentiate malignant from benign conditions showed sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy, positive and negative predictive values of 100, 88.5, 90, 50 and 100% on the basis of gadolinium enhancement only, by utilizing the Dixon technique. In conclusion, although Gd-enhancement and fat-suppressed sequence helped correctly differentiate among the groups of incidentally discovered adrenal masses, the degree of overlap suggests that it is still difficult to characterize individual patients. However, the modified three-point Dixon technique after contrast material administration appears to be a further capability of midfield MRI in the characterization of adrenal tissue.     

MR imaging of spinal cord arteriovenous malformations at 0.5 T: study of 34 cases

Thirty-four patients with angiographically proved arteriovenous malformations of the spinal cord were studied between May 1986 and July 1987. Examinations were performed on a CGR 5000 Magniscan 0.5-T scanner with a surface coil in all cases, and multislices in both T1- and T2-weighted sequences were obtained in sagittal and axial planes. The results showed that MR can accurately diagnose all cases of intramedullary arteriovenous malformations, since transverse images were able to precisely locate the nidus within the spinal cord. Other types of spinal cord arteriovenous malformations were also studied (perimedullary fistulae and dural arteriovenous fistula), and the findings confirmed the value of MR in the characterization of these lesions as well.     

3.0T MR灌注加权成像和扩散加权成像在胰腺肿块诊断中的应用

目的 评价3.0 T MR灌注参数和ADC值在胰腺癌和胰腺肿块诊断中的应用价值.方法 选取20名正常志愿者及25例经手术病理证实的胰腺癌患者,行基于T1对比胰腺灌注扫描.测量胰腺癌组织、邻近胰腺组织、远端炎症区及正常胰腺组织的血管通透性常数(Ktrans)、血液回流常数(Kep)及细胞外血管外间质容量(Ve),并采用方差分析进行比较.15名正常志愿者及58例患者(胰腺癌30例、肿块型胰腺炎9例、实性假乳头状瘤9例及神经内分泌肿瘤10例)行DWI,采用方差分析比较不同组织的ADC值,并应用ROC曲线分析其诊断效能.结果 胰腺癌组织、邻近胰腺组织、远端炎症区及正常胰腺的Ktrans分别为(1.66±1.25)、(3.77±2.67)、(1.16±0.94)和(2.69±1.46)/min,差异有统计学意义(F=8.160,P＜0.01),其中胰腺癌组织的Ktrans低于正常胰腺组织(P=0.011)及邻近胰腺组织(P=0.002);上述部位的Kep分别为(2.53±1.55)、(5.64±2.64)、(1.70±0.91)和(4.28±1.64)/min,差异有统计学意义(F=4.544,P＜0.01),其中胰腺癌组织的Kep值均低于正常胰腺组织(P=0.035)及邻近胰腺组织(P=0.041);Ve中位数分别为0.926、0.839、0.798和0.659,差异有统计学意义(χ2=12.040,P＜0.01),胰腺癌的Ve值高于正常胰腺(P＝0.002).胰腺癌组织、肿块型胰腺炎、实性假乳头状瘤、神经内分泌肿瘤及正常胰腺的ADC值分别为(1.57±0.26)×10-3、(1.19±0.15)×10-3、(1.05±0.35)×10-3、(1.62±0.41)×10-3及(1.82±0.25)×10-3 mm2/s,差异有统计学意义(F=21.681,P＜0.01),其中肿块型胰腺炎、胰腺癌及正常胰腺的ADC值两两之间差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.01),实性假乳头状瘤的ADC值低于神经内分泌肿瘤(P＜0.01).以ADC≥1.33×10-3mm2/s从肿块型胰腺炎中鉴别诊断胰腺癌,灵敏度和特异度分别为86.7%和88.9%,阳性预测值为96.3%,阴性预测值为66.7%.以ADC值≤1.25×10-3 mm2/s作为诊断实性假乳头状瘤的临界点,灵敏度和特异度分别为77.8%和100.0%,阳性预测值100.0%,阴性预测值83.3%.结论 3.0 T MR PWI显示胰腺癌的Ktrans和Kep较低,而Ve较高;呼吸门控DWI序列的ADC值能够较好地反映正常胰腺及胰腺肿块的组织病理生理特征,有助于胰腺肿块的诊断与鉴别.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate the value of MR perfusion parameters and ADC in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and pancreatic mass at 3.0 T MR. Methods Twenty healthy volunteers and 25 patients with pancreatic cancers proven by pathological results underwent MR PWI at a 3.0 T scanner. A two-compartment model was used to quantify Ktrans, Kep and Ve in the pancreatic cancer, adjacent pancreatic tissue, distal inflammatory pancreatic tissue and normal pancreatic tissue. All parameters among different tissues were analyzed and compared with ANONA. Fifteen normal volunteers and 58 patients, including 30 patients with pancreatic cancer (proven histopathologically), 9 patients with pancreatitis pseudotumor (4 patients proven by histopathological results, 5 patients proven by follow-up after treatment), 9 patients with solid pseudopapillary tumor of pancreas (SPTP, proven histopathologically) and 10 patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PET, proven by histopathology), underwent respiratory-triggered DWI on 3.0 T. ADC values of normal pancreas and all types of pancreatic lesions were statistically analyzed and compared with ANONA. ROC curve was used to analyze the diagnostic power of ADC value. Results Ktrans of pancreatic cancer, adjacent pancreatic tissue, distal inflammatory pancreatic tissue and normal pancreatic tissue were (1.66±1.25), (3.77±2.67),(1.16±0.94) and (2.69±1.46)/min respectively(F=8.160, P＜0.01). LSD test showed that Ktrans in the pancreatic cancer was statistically lower than that in normal pancreas (P=0.011)and adjacent pancreatic tissue(P=0.002). Kep of pancreatic cancer, adjacent pancreatic tissue, distal inflammatory pancreatic tissue and normal pancreatic tissue were (2.53±1.55), (5.64±2.64), (1.70±0.91) and (4.28±1.64)/min respectively(F=4.544, P＜0.01). LSD test revealed that Kep in pancreatic cancer was statistically lower than that in normal pancreatic tissue (P=0.035)and adjacent pancreatic tissue(P=0.041). The median of Ve among the pancreatic cancer, adjacent pancreatic tissue, distal inflammatory pancreatic tissue and normal pancreatic tissue were 0.926, 0.839, 0.798 and 0.659 respectively (χ2=12.040,P＜0.01). Ve in pancreatic cancer was statistically higher than that in normal pancreatic tissue (P=0.002). ADC values of the pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis pseudotumor, SPTP, PET and normal pancreas were(1.57±0.26)×10-3,(1.19±0.15)×10-3,(1.05±0.35)×10-3,(1.62±0.41)×10-3 and (1.82±0.25)×10-3 mm2/s(F=21.681, P＜0.01). LSD test showed there were significant statistical differences in ADC values among pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis pseudotumor and normal pancreatic tissue (P＜0.01). ROC curve disclosed that the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 86.7%, 88.9%, 96.3% and 66.7% respectively, when ADC≥1.33×10-3 mm2/s was used as a cutoff value for differential diagnosis of PDCA from MLP. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 77.8%, 100.0%, 100.0% and 83.3% respectively when ADC≤1.25×10-3 mm2/s was used as a cutoff value for differential diagnosis of SPTP from PET. Conclusion Compared to normal pancreatic tissue, pancreatic cancer usually had a lower Ktrans, Kep and larger Ve. ADC values from respiratory-triggered DWI were well related to histopathological features of pancreatic entities and may be helpful in the differential diagnosis.     

3.0T磁共振弥散加权成像在胰腺癌中的应用价值

目的:分析评价在3.0T磁共振非脂肪抑制憋气DWl序列在胰腺癌中的应用价值.方法-30例正常志愿者与30例经手术病理证实的胰腺癌患者,在3.0T磁共振上,术前行基于SE-EPI的非脂肪抑制憋气DWI序列,b值为0和600s/mm2,统计学比较分析正常胰腺、胰腺癌及远端炎症区的ADC值.结果:不同组织的ADC值从低到高依次为胰腺癌、正常胰腺、远端炎症,单因素方差分析显示不同组织的ADC值有明显统计学差异,F值为18.716,P值为0.0004,两两比较分析显示胰腺癌分别与正常胰腺及远端炎症的ADC值统计学有明显差异,P值分别为0.00483及0.00191.结论:在3.0T磁共振上,非脂肪抑制憋气DWI序列有助于病灶筛查,其ADC值能够较好的反映胰腺癌、正常胰腺及远端炎症的组织病理状态.     

MR imaging of intracerebral blood: diversity in the temporal pattern at 0.5 and 1.0 T

MR scans were obtained at 0.5 and 1.0 T in 40 patients with 46 intracerebral hematomas categorized as hyperacute (0-2 days), acute (3-7 days), subacute (8-14 days), and chronic (15 days to 6 years). In a retrospective review, the signal intensity of the lesions was compared with that of normal white matter of the brain on spin-density, T1-, and T2-weighted spin-echo and T1-weighted gradient-echo sequences. The classic appearance and evolution of hematomas described in the literature at 1.5 T were not found in a significant number of the cases reviewed. In the hyperacute group, only five of eight hematomas had signal intensities that were hypointense relative to brain on T2-weighted images. Two of eight hyperacute hematomas were hyperintense relative to brain on the T1-weighted spin-echo images. However, T1-weighted gradient-echo images reliably demonstrated a hypointense signal in some portion of the hematoma in 45 of 46 cases. We conclude that while there is no constant temporal pattern on spin-echo or gradient-echo sequences, there are signal-intensity changes suggestive of hemorrhage in nearly all hematomas imaged at 0.5 and 1.0 T. Although the inconsistency may be frustrating from a diagnostic standpoint, this variability may reveal important individual differences in hematomas and the brain that surrounds them, and thus be clinically significant. Before these data can be mechanistically analyzed, the reason for contrast on MR scans of hematoma must be better understood.     

Adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic ducts: comparative evaluation with CT and MR imaging at 1.5 T.

A prospective comparison of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at 1.5 T was performed in 50 patients with the suspected diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma. CT scans were obtained before and after administration of contrast material in 41 of 50 patients (82%); 34 of 41 postcontrast scans (83%) were obtained with dynamic CT. MR images were interpreted without knowledge of the results of CT, ultrasound, cholangiography, or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in 48 patients (96%). Surgical correlation of findings at CT and MR imaging was performed in 24 patients (48%) at laparotomy and in two patients (4%) at autopsy. On T1-weighted MR images, relatively diminished signal intensity of tumor compared with that of the adjacent pancreas was a consistent finding. MR imaging proved superior to CT in identification of pancreatic carcinoma (particularly in smaller intrapancreatic tumors), peripancreatic extension, vascular and portal vein invasion, and duodenal invasion. These results suggest that MR imaging of the pancreas is superior in many instances to CT in preoperative evaluation of pancreatic carcinoma.     

Snapshot imaging at 0.5 T using echo-planar techniques

Echo-planar imaging using a magnetic field strength of 0.5 T has resulted in an improvement in image quality compared with recent images published at 0.1 T. The sensitivity of the technique to main magnetic field inhomogeneity and transient eddy currents has necessitated innovations in gradient and radiofrequency coil design. These improvements are described, and new variations in the echo-planar pulse sequence which provide better contrast and allow separate imaging of water and fat distributions are presented.     

Larynx: MR imaging at 2.35 T

To study the consequences of an improvement in spatial resolution, the authors compared magnetic resonance (MR) images of nine laryngeal specimens with whole-organ histologic slides of the same specimens. Five of the specimens were obtained during laryngectomies performed on patients with high-stage tumors of the larynx. Four specimens were from patients with no known disease. The MR images were obtained on a 2.35-T system with a closely fitting probe head. A conventional spin-echo sequence was used, with T1- and T2-weighted settings. The in-plane resolution obtained was about 0.3 mm. The T2-weighted images generally showed better contrast and allowed identification of the perichondrium. The resolutions used were not much greater than those clinically available. The findings suggest that there will be important advances in clinical MR imaging of the larynx in the near future.     

3.0T自由呼吸背景抑制弥散加权成像在胰腺癌中的应用研究

目的:在3.0T磁共振上,分析评价自由呼吸背景抑制弥散序列在胰腺癌中的应用价值。方法:20例正常志愿者行常规T1WI、频率饱和脂肪抑制T2WI、MRCP、弥散加权成像(DWI)及三维LAVE平扫,25例经手术病理证实的胰腺癌患者,术前行常规T1WI、频率饱和脂肪抑制T2WI、MRCP、DWI、三维LAVE及增强三维LAVA扫描,DWI序列基于SE-EPI序列及b值为0和600s/mm2,应用自由呼吸背景抑制技术,统计学比较分析正常胰腺、胰腺癌、邻近胰腺及远端炎症区的ADC值。结果:不同组织的ADC值从低到高依次为胰腺癌、正常胰腺、远端炎症及邻近胰腺组织,单因素方差分析显示不同组织的ADC值有明显统计学差异,F值为17.936,P值为0.0003,两两比较分析显示胰腺癌分别与正常胰腺、邻近胰腺及远端炎症的ADC值统计学有明显差异,P值分别为0.00591、0.000347及0.00211。结论:在3.0T磁共振上,自由呼吸背景抑制DWI序列有助于病灶筛查,其ADC值能够较好的反映胰腺癌、正常胰腺、邻近胰腺及远端炎症的组织病理状态。     

0.5 T MR单激发快速自旋回波在胆系梗阻性病变诊断中的应用

目的评估0.5 T MR单激发半傅立叶采集快速自旋回波胰胆管水成像(HASTE-MRCP)的定位及定性准确性,并与三维快速自旋回波胰胆管水成像(3D-TSE-MRCP)进行比较.方法所有95例病人均行HASTE-MRCP及结合呼吸门控的3D-TSE-MRCP检查及最大信号强度投影(MIP)(设备为Philips 0.5 T T5-NT 磁共振成像系统).分析95例患者的胆管解剖显示情况、病变显示情况并与手术结果比较.结果 HASTE-MRCP胆总管及1～3级胆管的显示率为100.0%,4～5级胆管为94.7%,胆囊为74.1%,胰管为63.2%;结石部位显示100.0%,恶性病变及术后狭窄显示率100.0%.与3D-TSE-MRCP比较,对4～5级胆管、胆囊颈及结石,尤其泥沙样结石的显示率更高,统计学上两者间差异有显著性意义(χ2 值分别为3.92、6.62、11.76 及29.93,P<0.05 或<0.01);对恶性病变及术后狭窄的显示率均为100.0%.结石主要表现为胆道内呈低信号的"充盈缺损";恶性病变则表现为截断及梗阻征象,并可显示软组织轮廓.结论 HASTE-MRCP是优秀的胰胆管超快速成像技术,在0.5 T MR 也能非常好的运用;比较结合呼吸门控的3D-TSE-MRCP ,HASTE-MRCP在重症病人成像或显示小结石及泥沙样结石上有明显优势,建议对急诊、重症及临床疑为结石的病人,首先考虑选择HASTE-MRCP技术.