The possibility of applying magnetic resonance imaging with hepatospecific contrast agent.

Nowadays, it is difficult to overestimate the role of cross-sectional imaging in the diagnosis of focal and diffuse liver diseases. In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) there is a unique opportunity to use hepatospecific contrast agents compared with other visualization techniques. Gadoxetic acid is a hepatospecific magnetic resonance contrast agent which has the extracellular contrast agent properties and hepatotropic property. About half of the administered dose of gadoxetic acid enters into functioning hepatocytes through cell membrane transporters and then is excreted into the bile ducts and sinusoidal space. The obtained hepatobiliary phase provides information about the structural features of the focal liver lesions, improving their detection and differential diagnosis. In addition it allows to assess the anatomical and functional conditions of the hepatobiliary system. This article describes clinical applications of MRI with gadoxetic acid and its benefits, visualization principles of different focal liver lesions in hepatobiliary phase and features of the obtained images.