ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of a fast gradient-echo(GRE) three-dimensional contrast-enhanced volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination(3D-VIBE) MR sequence in evaluating focal liver lesions.Methods Conventional spin-echo T2W,2D GRE T1W plain scan and Gd-enhanced 3D-VIBE multi-phasic(early arterial,late arterial and portal venous phases) acquisitions were prospectively performed for 51 consecutive patients suspected of having focal liver lesions on CT or ultrasound imaging.Native T2W and 2D GRE T1W were acquired first,then 3D-VIBE fast scanning at early arterial,late arterial and portal venous phases respectively.The SNR and CNR of the liver lesions on plain scan and the enhancement patterns on contrast-enhanced 3D-VIBE images were carefully observed with correlation of the clinical and surgical pathological findings.Results There exited certain differences in SNR,CNR,and the enhancement patterns of different kinds of focal hepatic lesions in plain scan and Gd-enhanced multi-phasic 3D-VIBE acquisitions.Conclusion 3D-VIBE MR sequence is helpful in the detection and characterization of focal liver lesions.