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European Radiology
Published in: European Radiology 1/2020

Open Access 01-01-2020 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging | Magnetic Resonance

Consensus report from the 8th International Forum for Liver Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Authors: Christoph J. Zech, Ahmed Ba-Ssalamah, Thomas Berg, Hersh Chandarana, Gar-Yang Chau, Luigi Grazioli, Myeong-Jin Kim, Jeong Min Lee, Elmar M. Merkle, Takamichi Murakami, Jens Ricke, Claude B. Sirlin, Bin Song, Bachir Taouli, Kengo Yoshimitsu, Dow-Mu Koh

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Objectives

The 8th International Forum for Liver Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), held in Basel, Switzerland, in October 2017, brought together clinical and academic radiologists from around the world to discuss developments in and reach consensus on key issues in the field of gadoxetic acid–enhanced liver MRI since the previous Forum held in 2013.

Methods

Two main themes in liver MRI were considered in detail at the Forum: the use of gadoxetic acid for contrast-enhanced MRI in patients with liver cirrhosis and the technical performance of gadoxetic acid–enhanced liver MRI, both opportunities and challenges. This article summarises the expert presentations and the delegate voting on consensus statements discussed at the Forum.

Results and conclusions

It was concluded that gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI has higher sensitivity for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), when compared with multidetector CT, by utilising features of hyperenhancement in the arterial phase and hypointensity in the hepatobiliary phase (HBP). Recent HCC management guidelines recognise an increasing role for gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI in early diagnosis and monitoring post-resection. Additional research is needed to define the role of HBP in predicting microvascular invasion, to better define washout during the transitional phase in gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI for HCC diagnosis, and to reduce the artefacts encountered in the arterial phase. Technical developments are being directed to shortening the MRI protocol for reducing time and patient discomfort and toward utilising faster imaging and non-Cartesian free-breathing approaches that have the potential to improve multiphasic dynamic imaging.

Key Points

• Gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI provides higher diagnostic sensitivity than CT for diagnosing HCC.
• Gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI has roles in early-HCC diagnosis and monitoring post-resection response.
• Faster imaging and free-breathing approaches have potential to improve multiphasic dynamic imaging.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
Consensus report from the 8th International Forum for Liver Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors
Christoph J. Zech
Ahmed Ba-Ssalamah
Thomas Berg
Hersh Chandarana
Gar-Yang Chau
Luigi Grazioli
Myeong-Jin Kim
Jeong Min Lee
Elmar M. Merkle
Takamichi Murakami
Jens Ricke
Claude B. Sirlin
Bin Song
Bachir Taouli
Kengo Yoshimitsu
Dow-Mu Koh
Publication date
01-01-2020
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 1/2020
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-019-06369-4

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