Preoperative detection of malignant hepatic tumors: comparison of combined methods of MR imaging with combined methods of CT.

OBJECTIVE: We compared radiologists' performance on combined unenhanced, gadolinium-enhanced, and ferumoxides-enhanced MR imaging with their performance on helical CT during arterial portography (CTAP) and biphasic CT during hepatic arteriography (CTHA) for the preoperative detection of malignant hepatic tumors.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: MR images and CT scans obtained in 33 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Images of the liver were reviewed on a segment-by-segment basis; a total of 261 segments with 39 hepatocellular carcinomas and 21 metastases were independently reviewed by three radiologists who were invited from outside institutions. Unenhanced and gadolinium-enhanced MR images were reviewed first, then ferumoxides-enhanced MR images were added for combined review. CTAP images and biphasic CTHA images were reviewed together.

RESULTS: Sensitivity for the detection of hepatic tumors was analogous for combined unenhanced, gadolinium-enhanced, and ferumoxides-enhanced MR images (86%) and for combined CTAP images and biphasic CTHA images (87%). Specificity was higher with MR images (95%, p < 0.01) than with CT images (91%). Radiologists' performances were improved (Az = 0.962, p = 0.0502) by combining ferumoxides-enhanced MR images with unenhanced and gadolinium-enhanced MR images (Az = 0.950), and were analogous for combined unenhanced, gadolinium-enhanced, and ferumoxides-enhanced MR images and for combined CTAP images and biphasic CTHA images (Az = 0.959).

CONCLUSION: Radiologists' performances on combined unenhanced, gadolinium-enhanced, and ferumoxides-enhanced MR imaging compared with their performances on combined helical CTAP and biphasic CTHA are analogous for the preoperative detection of malignant hepatic tumors. Such a dedicated combination of MR imaging may obviate the need for more invasive angiographically assisted helical CT for the preoperative detection of malignant hepatic tumors.