Evaluation of a Non-Enhanced MRI Protocol Compared to Gadolinium-Enhanced MRI for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Andrew Dean Hardie¹

MRI is accurate for identifying hepatocellular carcinoma however gadolinium chelates are contraindicated in patients with severe renal dysfunction due to the risk of Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis. There is a need to develop clinically usefull non-contrast MRI techniques to image these patients. Diffusion-weighted imaging and T2* weighted imaging offer the ability to identify tumors in cirrhotic patients with an accuracy similar to gadolinium MRI.