OBJECTIVESTo investigate the detection rate of small hepatocellular carcinomas using 3.0T MRI 3D-volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) sequence dynamic contrast-enhanced scan, and to evaluate its application in the diagnosis of small hepatocellular carcinomas.

METHODSImaging data of 61 cases of small hepatocellular carcinomas obtained using a 3.0 T Siemens Magnetom Trio Tim magnetic resonance scanner for plain scan and multi-phase dynamic contrast-enhanced scans of three-dimensional volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (3D-VIBE) were retrospectively analyzed with reference to their pathological diagnoses. The signal and enhanced features and the detection rates of the tumors in different phases of examination were analyzed.

RESULTSSixty-six lesions were detected in the livers of the 61 patients by pathological examinations, of which 49 had pseudocapsule formation. In their T1WI plain scanning, 43 (65.15%) lesions were found, of which pseudocapsules were found in 19 (38.78%). In their T2WI imaging, 53 (80.30%) lesions were found. In dynamic enhanced 3D-VIBE sequence, 65 (98.48%) lesions were found, of which 35 (71.43%) were found with pseudocapsules. The sizes of the carcinomas ranged from 0.8 to 3.0 cm, 2.1cm on the average. The results of statistical analysis for the detection rates of the cancers of the three different sequences were significantly different (chi2=24.197, P less than 0.05). The differences of qualitative accuracy obtained by plain scan (T1WI + T2WI) and 3D-VIBE sequence were significantly different (chi2=66, P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSION3.0 T MRI 3D-VIBE sequence dynamic contrast-enhanced scan is high-speed and can clearly demonstrate the arterial phase, the portal venous phase and the parenchymal phase images. It not only can find small lesions which can not be found with a plain scan, but also can assist diagnosis through a time-intensity curve. It is of great value for detection and differential diagnosis of small hepatocellular carcinomas.