Hepatic metastases: use of diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging
Bruegel M et al. - In a review of the use of diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging (DW-EPI) for hepatic metastases, it was concluded that DW-EPI is more sensitive than T2-weighted MR imaging and at least as accurate as superparamagnetic iron oxide-enhanced or gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging for detection of hepatic metastases. Although difficulties occasionally arise in further characterizing small lesions detected with DW-EPI, substantial improvements in preoperative evaluation of liver metastases in candidates for hepatic resection may be expected. Methods- Diffusion-weighted MR imaging is increasingly applied to detect and characterize focal hepatic lesions.
- Technical aspects regarding DW-EPI of the liver will be addressed, and concepts for image interpretation will be provided.
Results- The value of DW-EPI for detection of hepatic metastases is illustrated on the basis of a review of the literature and personal experience.
- Special emphasis is given to the comparison of DW-EPI with well-established MR imaging techniques such as T2-weighted and contrast-enhanced MR imaging, and advantages and limitations of DW-EPI will be described.
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