Hepatic haemangioma: dynamic MRI using gadolinium-DTPA.

Six patients with hepatic haemangioma were examined with a 1.5 tesla magnetic resonance scanner before and immediately after bolus injection of 0.05 mmol/kg gadolinium-DTPA. Eight to ten spin-echo images (TR: 100 msec, TE: 20 msec, scanning time: 26 sec) were obtained through the region of the haemangioma. In all cases, dense contrast enhancement of the lesion was demonstrated. The enhancement spread in all directions from the lesion on subsequent delayed scans (high signal fill-in); a signal higher than that from surrounding hepatic parenchyma was present two minutes after contrast injection. Dynamic MRI is a promising method for the evaluation of hepatic haemangioma and it is more easily tolerated by patients than dynamic CT using iodinated contrast medium.