Role of ultrasonography (US) and standard dynamic magnetic resonance imaging in detection and characterization of computed tomography (CT) diagnosed indeterminate lesions at patient with underlying cancer

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of our study was to determine efficacy of ultrasonography (US) and diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) for the characterization of small (<15 mm) hepatic lesions described as indeterminate lesions on prior computed tomography (CT) scans in patient with cancer.

 Methods: Small hepatic masses in 30 patients considered indeterminate on prior CT scans were included in the study for identified indeterminate small hepatic lesions (< 15 mm). Then, US and MRI examinations were performed for all of patients. Two radiologists used agreement reading of established US and MRI to characterize indeterminate small lesions as simple cysts, hemorrhagic cysts, lipoma, adenoma , hemangioma or metastasis.

Results: 30 indeterminate small hepatic lesions were detected on CT. There were 8 and 9 malignant lesions

and 10 and 21 benign lesions among those with pathologic follow-up by US and MRI respectively.12 lesions could not be characterized with US.

Conclusion: US and MRI can be an effective method for characterizing lesions small (<15 mm) hepatic masses found to be indeterminate by CT. In addition MRI is better than US offers only marginal benefit for detection and characterization of indeterminate small lesions in liver.