Cirrhosis of the liver: MR imaging with mangafodipir trisodium (Mn-DPDP)

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of manganese (II) N, N'-dipyridoxylethylenediamine-N, N'-diacetate 5,5'-bis(phosphate) (Mn-DPDP) in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of cirrhotic livers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-eight patients (mean age, 58.8 years), 29 with and 29 without cirrhosis, underwent MR imaging before and after intravenous administration of 5 mu mol/kg Mn-DPDP. Enhancement effects were assessed quantitatively and qualitatively. Histologic confirmation was obtained in 51 patients. RESULTS: Liver parenchyma in both patient groups enhanced significantly on T1-weighted spin-echo and gradient-recalled-echo (GRE) images (P < .01). However, cirrhotic livers enhanced significantly less than noncirrhotic livers on T1-weighted GRE images (P <.05). Fourteen cirrhotic livers had heterogeneous enhancement of parenchyma; enhancement was more prominent on GRE images. Decreased enhancement was seen in patients with confluent fibrosis (n = 5), diffuse fibrosis (n = 6), and siderotic regenerating nodules (n = 4). Increased enhancement was seen in patients with benign regenerating nodules (n = 4). CONCLUSION: Mn-DPDP is useful in patients with cirrhosis.