MR liver imaging with Gd-EOB-DTPA: A delay time of 10 minutes is sufficient for lesion characterisation

Abstract

Objectives To assess whether, in patients with normal liver function, a hepatobiliary delay time of 10 min after Gd-EOBDTPA injection is sufficient for lesion characterisation. Methods In 42 consecutive patients with suspected focal liver lesions, dynamic MRI was performed after intravenous Gd-EOB-DTPA, followed by hepatobiliary phases at 5, 10 and 20 min. The following items were assessed at each hepatobiliary phase: parenchymal enhancement, contrast agent excretion in bile ducts, lesion enhancement characteristics (hypo-, iso-, or hyperintensity, rim enhancement, central non-enhancement), and contrast- and signal-to-noise ratios, separately for hypo- and hyperintense lesions. Results Following enhancement, parenchymal signal intensity increased significantly up to 10 min (86.3%, P<0.001), and subsequently stabilised (86.5% after 20 min, P00.223). Biliary contrast agent excretion was first observed in 2, 32 and 5 patients after 5, 10 and 20 min respectively. Hepatobiliary lesion enhancement characteristics observed after 5 min persisted during later hepatobiliary phases. CNR and SNR ratios increased significantly (P<0.05) up to 10 min after enhancement without further increase at 20 min, in hypo- and hyperintense lesions. Conclusions If lesion characterisation is the primary reason for performing MRI, a hepatobiliary delay time of 10 min after Gd-EOB-DTPA injection is sufficient in patients with normal liver function. © The Author(s) 2012.