[Relaxation time measurements in the differential magnetic resonance tomographic diagnosis of liver tumors]

Survey of water proton longitudinal relaxation in liver in vivo

Objective

To determine the variability, and preferred values, for normal liver longitudinal water proton relaxation rate R₁ in the published literature.

Methods

Values of mean R₁ and between-subject variance were obtained from literature searching. Weighted means were fitted to a heuristic and to a model.

Results

After exclusions, 116 publications (143 studies) remained, representing apparently normal liver in 3392 humans, 99 mice and 249 rats. Seventeen field strengths were included between 0.04 T and 9.4 T. Older studies tended to report higher between-subject coefficients of variation (CoV), but for studies published since 1992, the median between-subject CoV was 7.4%, and in half of those studies, measured R₁ deviated from model by 8.0% or less.

Discussion

The within-study between-subject CoV incorporates repeatability error and true between-subject variation. Between-study variation also incorporates between-population variation, together with bias from interactions between methodology and physiology. While quantitative relaxometry ultimately requires validation with phantoms and analysis of propagation of errors, this survey allows investigators to compare their own R₁ and variability values with the range of existing literature.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10334-021-00928-x.

MR relaxometry: estimating overhydration in renal failure

An MR method is described for estimating overhydration in patients suffering from renal failure. In 29 healthy volunteers, the fat content of a selected slice of the lower limb was correlated to the overall T1-relaxation time (r = -0.97, p < 0.000001). When compared with the normal T1 of the voluntary group, delta T1 was calculated having regard to the individual fat content in 74 MR studies of 22 overhydrated patients. MR results were correlated with the difference between clinically estimated dry and the actual body weight (r = 0.6, p < 0.000001). In an intraindividual follow-up (11 studies) MRI was shown to provide good correlation to the actual body weight (r = 0.9, p < 0.0005) and fluid balance (r = 0.87, p < 0.001).

Mn-DPDP enhancement patterns of hepatocellular lesions on MR images

The recently developed paramagnetic hepatobiliary contrast agent manganese dipyridoxyl diphosphate (DPDP) was evaluated in eight patients. Pathologic diagnoses included five hepatocellular carcinomas, two cirrhoses, and one focal nodular hyperplasia. T1-weighted spin-echo and gradient-echo images were obtained after intravenous injection of 5 or 10 mumol/kg Mn-DPDP; these were compared with unenhanced T1-weighted spin-echo and gradient-echo images and T2-weighted spin-echo images. In all patients with lesions of hepatocellular origin, focal areas of increased enhancement were seen in the lesions after administration of Mn-DPDP. In the cirrhotic livers, these areas corresponded to foci of hepatic regeneration. In all patients, the signal-to-noise ratio in normal liver tissue increased significantly after injection of Mn-DPDP. Signal intensity in the six primary liver tumors was further increased, so that they appeared hyperintense relative to surrounding liver tissue on all T1-weighted images. Conspicuity and demarcation of all lesions were improved on Mn-DPDP-enhanced images.

A study of T1-weighted 31phosphorus MR-spectroscopy from patients with focal and diffuse liver disease

31P-MR-Spectroscopy was performed in 28 patients with focal (n = 23) and diffuse (n = 5) liver disease and in 18 healthy volunteers. The spectra were obtained with a whole body scanner operating at 1.5 T by using a surface coil. To get T1-weighted 31P-spectra a short TR of 600 msec was taken, because T1-weighted spectra of focal liver disease were more significantly different from spectra from healthy volunteers than density weighted ones. The VOI from patients with focal superficial alterations showed a mean volume of 172 ml, with diffuse liver disease 196 ml, and from volunteers 158 ml. Focal tumors filled up the VOI on an average of 70%. This investigation demonstrated that PME/beta-ATP- and PDE/beta-ATP-ratios were sensitive indicators for focal liver disease. As a result of this study we could establish a significant increase of PME/beta-ATP- (0.75 +/- 0.30) and PDE/beta-ATP-ratios (1.68 +/- 0.62) in patients with superficial focal liver metastases (n = 19) compared to the control group (PME/beta-ATP: 0.49 +/- 0.17, PDE/beta-ATP: 1.24 +/- 0.24; t-test: p < 0.02). Patients with a hemangioma (n = 1), liver infarction (n = 1), empyema of gallbladder (n = 1) and a hepatic involvement by a malignant lymphoma (n = 1) showed a similar increase of PME/beta-ATP and/or PDE/beta-ATP. Up to now spectral changes seemed to be non-specific. The ratios of 31P metabolites of the cirrhoses (n = 4) and the fatty liver (n = 1) did not show any characteristic changes versus the volunteers.