Role of MRI in Detecting and Characterizing Small Hepatic Focal Lesions

Background Despite the recent advances in liver imaging, the detection and characterization of small hepatic focal lesions is still a real challenge. Particularly in cancer patients where the characterization of a small HFL as thus the precise tumor staging is critical for optimal treatment planning. Aim of the Work To explore the effectiveness, and hence the clinical utility, of MRI detection and characterization of small focal hepatic lesions either only discovered on MRI or as a further work up of CT/US-indeterminate lesions. Patients and Methods We reviewed our database for individuals who underwent liver MR imaging between March 2018 and March 2019 for the evaluation of small hepatic lesions that were discovered for the first time or had been previously visualized on routinely performed CT and had been considered indeterminate. Results The present study included 44 patients of which 26 were males (59.1%) and 18 were females (40.9%). The age range of the study group was 19 to 77 years. The mean age for Malignant lesions was 51 years. The right lobe of liver was involved in 23 cases (52.3%), left lobe in 5 cases (11.4%) and both lobes in 16 cases (36.4%). There were 30 (68.18%) benign, 13 (29.54%) malignant lesions and 1 (2.3%) indeterminate, hemangiomas were predominant in benign lesions whereas hepatocellular carcinomas were predominant in malignant lesions. N'TRI could characterize 92% cases. Conclusion The diagnostic process of small hepatic focal lesions, either detection or characterization or both, continues to represent a challenge. Contrast-enhanced MR can accurately detect and characterize majority of small hepatic focal lesions.