Detection of hepatic metastases by proton spectroscopic imaging. Work in progress.

Fourteen patients with hepatic metastases underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging using both the conventional spin-echo (SE) technique and the opposed phase of the proton spectroscopic imaging method. The opposed image showed more lesions than the conventional SE image in five patients and provided better contrast between the liver parenchyma and metastases in two patients. Four of these seven patients had associated fatty infiltration of the liver. When compared with the computed tomography (CT) scan, the opposed image either showed more lesions or provided better contrast in six patients, four of whom had fatty infiltration. More significantly, the MR image showed several 1-cm lesions not shown by the CT scan in one patient. Our study discloses the possible explanations for the increased sensitivity of the opposed image in detecting hepatic metastases.