MRI features of inflammatory hepatocellular adenomas on hepatocyte phase imaging with liver-specific contrast agents

Purpose: To evaluate the presentation of inflammatory hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs) on hepatocyte phase MRI. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the MRI features of histologically proven HCAs on hepatocyte phase imaging. Twenty-one lesions (17 with inflammatory subtype) were scanned with gadobenate dimeglumine. Signal intensities of the lesions were assessed in the hepatocyte phase and on the T1-weighted sequences before contrast. Results: After gadobenate dimeglumine injection, 71% (12/17) of the inflammatory HCAs showed areas of iso- or hyperintensity to the surrounding liver in the hepatocyte phase. In 82% (10/12) of the iso- or hyperintense lesions, this was found over more than 75% of the lesion surface. None of the noninflammatory HCAs showed areas of iso- or hyperintensity to the surrounding liver in the hepatocyte phase. From these 12, 7 were hyperintense on T1-weighting before contrast due to liver steatosis, 2 due to intrinsic hyperintensity (on the in-phase sequence), and 3 were isointense. Conclusion: In contrast to noninflammatory HCAs, inflammatory HCAs can show areas of iso- to hyperintensity to the surrounding liver in the hepatocyte phase; therefore, other typical imaging features should also be used to distinguish between HCAs and FNHs.

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