Comparison of gadolinium chelates with manganese-DPDP for liver lesion detection and characterization: preliminary results.

Nonspecific extracellular gadolinium chelate (NEGd) was prospectively compared with managanese (Mn)-DPDP (Mn) for the detection and characterization of focal liver lesions of various histology. Seventeen patients with known or suspected focal liver lesions underwent NEGd and Mn-enhanced studies at 1.5 T. Study findings were correlated with histology (five patients), computed tomography (CT) examinations (17 patients), and 4- to 13-month imaging follow-up by CT and/or MR (five patients). NEGd studies were performed as serial postcontrast spoiled gradient echo (SGE) sequences, and Mn studies were performed as SGE sequences 15 and 30 min postocontrast and T1-weighted, fat-suppressed spin echo at 16 min. NEGd and Mn images were prospectively interpreted in a separate blinded fashion. Lesion detection and characterization were determined. NEGd and Mn-enhanced images demonstrated 61 and 49 lesions, respectively (p = .1, NS). A total of 60 and 33 lesions were characterized on NEGd and Mn images, respectively, which was significantly different (p = .008). No differences were observed for the detection and characterization of liver metastases; whereas there was a trend for superior detection and characterization for hepatocellular carcinoma with NEGA.