Infectious liver foci in leukemia: comparison of short-inversion-time inversion-recovery, T1-weighted spin-echo, and dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging.

PURPOSE

To assess the performances of three different magnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques in the evaluation of patients with leukemia and suspected hepatic candidiasis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twelve patients with acute leukemia and definite or clinically suspected hepatic candidiasis were imaged at 1.0 T with a T1-weighted spin-echo (SE) technique, a short-inversion-time inversion-recovery (STIR) fat-suppression technique, and a dynamic gadolinium-enhanced fast low-angle shot (FLASH) technique. The conspicuity of hepatic lesions was evaluated semiquantitatively and ranked on a three-point scale.

RESULTS

Multiple liver lesions were seen as high-signal-intensity foci with the STIR sequence; other sequences showed equivocal results. In the semiquantitative evaluation, STIR was significantly (P < .001) superior to both T1-weighted SE and contrast-enhanced FLASH techniques. Multiple red blood cell transfusions affected lesion conspicuity.

CONCLUSION

STIR imaging is recommended as the MR technique of choice at 1.0 T in the evaluation of infectious liver foci in patients with acute leukemia.