[Enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for evaluation of hypersplenism after high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation].

Objective: To study the value of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating the curative effect of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for hypersplenism.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of dynamic contrast enhanced MRI data was conducted in 15 patients with hypersplenism before and after HIFU treatment to observe the signal changes and enhancement features of the lesions.

Results: Compared with that before treatment, the signal intensity of the lesions after HIFU could be increased, reduced or remained unchanged on T(1)WI without specificity; on T(2)WI, the signal intensity of the lesions was reduced after HIFU treatment. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI showed larger ablation areas than those displayed by T(1)WI and T(2)WI, and no enhancement was found in the lesions.

Conclusion: T(2)WI has a greater specificity in demonstrating coagulation necrosis of hypersplenism after HIFU ablation, and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI has a higher sensitivity in displaying the ablation area by highlighting the blood supply and enhancement characteristics of the lesions. MRI is efficient and noninvasive in follow-up evaluation of the signal intensity as well as histological changes of the treated region after HIFU.