Role of MRI with hepatospecific contrast agent in the identification and characterization of focal liver lesions: pathological correlation in explanted livers.

Aim: To assess the diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gadoxetic acid in the identification of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) nodules by comparison with histological findings.

Methods: In a cohort of patients suffering from cirrhosis of various etiologies (chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) or hepatitis B virus (HBV), alcohol abuse, cryptogenic forms), we selected 17 patients affected by HCC who were eligible for liver transplantation on the basis of a computed-tomography (CT) total-body examination. Such patients also underwent an MRI examination under basal conditions, and with four dynamic phases, as well as a hepatobiliary phase acquired after at least 20 min and recognized by the excretion of contrast agent into the bile duct, following intravenous administration of 0.