Marcus M. Von Falkenhausen MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Carsten Meyer MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Nuschin Morakkabati-Spitz MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Goetz Gerhard Lutterbey MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Juergen Gieseke, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hans Heinz Schild MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Christiane Katharina Kuhl MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Superparamagnetic iron-oxide containing contrast agent (SPIO) is successfully administered in liver imaging for tumour characterization and improved lesion detectability. The stronger susceptibility effects at 3T may lead to a further decrease of the SI of the liver parenchyma, resulting in an increase of the liver vs. tumour contrast. Purpose of the study was to intra-individually compare the diagnostic yield of SPIO enhanced liver MRI at 3.0T compared to 1.5T.

Investigations were done on a 1.5T and a 3.0T Intera System (Philips MS, Best NL). T2 weighted images (TSE) were acquired with respiratory triggering and spectral fat suppression after bolus injection of SPIO (Resovist, Schering AG, Berlin Germany). 42 patients (21 female, 21 male mean age: 54 y) with different focal liver lesions (haemangioma, metastasis, HCC, CCC, Adenoma, FNH) were investigated at 1.5T first in the routine clinical workup, followed by the 3T scan within 60 minutes. Image analysis was done by calculating SNR and contrast ratios between liver and lesions respectively liver and muscle, kidneys and liquid. Statistical analysis was done with the paired t-test.

All studies were successfully performed at 3.0T. The calculation of the SNR values showed an increase in SNR at 3.0T compared to 1.5T in the range of 1.39 (liquid) and 1.47 (liver) with exception of the muscle parenchyma which showed an SNR increase of 2.55. The calculated contrast ratios showed neither a significant increase between liver tissue and liver lesions nor between liver tissue and liquid or the kidney parenchyma. In contrast we found an increase in contrast between liver tissue and muscle tissue at 3.0T versus 1.5 T (p < 0.001) by a factor of three.

The higher susceptibility at 3.0T does not translate into a higher contrast between liver lesions and the liver parenchyma. The observed increase in the contrast between liver and muscle tissue is due to the non-uniform alteration of T1 and T2 relaxation times at 3.0T compared to 1.5T.

J.G.: J. Gieseke is working for the company whose sytems used.

Von Falkenhausen, M, Meyer, C, Morakkabati-Spitz, N, Lutterbey, G, Gieseke, J, Schild, H, Kuhl, C, et al, , Liver Imaging at 3.0T with SPIO: Does the Higher Field Strength Translate into Higher Contrast?.  Radiological Society of North America 2005 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 27 - December 2, 2005 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2005/4409381.html