The purpose of this study was to assess the value of T2 relaxation times in differentiation between solid and nonsolid hepatic lesions. Fifty-two patients with 114 proven lesions were examined (67 solid tumors, 28 hemangiomas, 19 cystic lesions). Examinations were performed on 1.5 T scanner with dual-echo TSE sequence (TR = 1800 ms; TE 1 = 120 ms; TE 2 = 40 ms). Measurements of SI of the liver and of focal lesions for both TE were performed and approximate T2 relaxation times of the liver and of focal lesions were calculated. The mean T2 time of the liver was 54 ms (range, 41-74), of solid lesions - 85 ms (range, 57-148), of hemangiomas - 155 ms (range, 82-249), of cysts and abscesses - 660 ms (range, 148-1241). At the threshold of 116 ms the sensitivity and the specificity for the diagnosis of solid liver lesion was 98% and 97%. Two hemangiomas were incorrectly diagnosed as solid lesions; one false negative diagnosis was metastatic tumor with large area of necrosis. Calculations of T2 relaxation times obtained from dual-echo TSE sequence enable differentiation between solid and nonsolid liver lesions (hemangiomas, abscesses and cysts) with high sensitivity and specificity.

Keywords: magnetic resonance, Liver Neoplasms, liver hemangioma