Usefulness of EOB-MRI for diagnosis of sigmoid colon cancer and metachronous hepatic metastases

Teikyo University Hospital, Mizonokuchi 
Tomohiko Higashida, Dept. of Radiology

DATE : 2021

Introduction

Patient’s background

Patient’s background

Male; 70s; body weight: 70 kg; diagnosis of sigmoid colon cancer and metachronous hepatic metastases

Assessment objectives

The patient visited the author’s hospital with bloody stools as the primary complaint. A diagnosis of sigmoid colon cancer was made by computed tomography (CT) and endoscopy, and resection was performed. TS-1 administration was initiated as postoperative chemotherapy, but it was discontinued after a single cycle because of diarrhea. The patient was then monitored by CT. No clear recurrence was found, but PET-CT 1 year after surgery showed scattered loci with mild accumulation in the liver, so EOB-MRI was performed.

Contrast agent used

Gadoxetate disodium(Gd-EOB-DTPA) injection, 0.1 mL/kg

Case explanation

A left-lobe hepatic metastasis was diagnosed, and two cycles of FOLFOX2 chemotherapy were administered. FOLFOX + Bmab chemotherapy was then initiated. After completion of nine cycles, no expansion of the hepatic metastasis was found, but the patient was admitted to the hospital because of fever and SpO2 decrease. A diagnosis of drug-induced interstitial pneumonia was then made,and Solu-Medrol pulse therapy was administered for 3 days, followed by prednine tapering, and discharge from hospital. The patient was subsequently monitored without chemotherapy, but no marked change in hepatic metastasis size was found.

Imaging findings

 Fig. 1. Simple, fat-suppressed, T2-weighted imaging

T2-weighted imaging showed a nodule 8 mm in diameter with a slightly high signal, in S2 of the liver. 
A small hemangioma in the right lobe of the liver was suspected.

Fig. 1. Simple, fat-suppressed, T2-weighted imaging
 Fig. 2. Diffusion-weighted imaging

Diffusion-weighted imaging showed a markedly high-signal region in a nodule in S2 of the liver.

Fig. 2. Diffusion-weighted imaging
 Fig. 3. Contrast T1-weighted imaging late phase

Little contrast enhancement was found in the nodule in S2 of the liver from early phase to late phase.

Fig. 3. Contrast T1-weighted imaging late phase
Fig. 4. Contrast T1-weighted imaging hepatobiliary phase

A clear decrease in EOB uptake by the nodule in S2 of the liver was found.

Fig. 4. Contrast T1-weighted imaging hepatobiliary phase

Photography protocol

Imaging typePhotography 
sequence
Photography 
duration 
(min:s)
TE 
(msec)
TR 
(msec)
FA 
(deg)
Flipback 
(yes/no)
Fat sat 
(type)
ETL 
(number)
P-MRI 
(Reduction Factor)
Holding breath 
(yes/no)
NEX 
(calculation 
number)
Dual echoFSPGR16sec1.1 
2.3
5.312Phase 1.75   
Slice 1.0
Yes
Contrast agent administration
DynamicLAVA-Flex14sec1.75.615SPECIALPhase 2.0   
Slice 1.5
Yes
DWISE/EPI3:54688000SPECIALPhase 2.0   
Slice 1.0
No
T2WIFR-PROPELLER3:2057,4800090YesCHESS20Phase 2.0   
Slice 1.0
No24
HBPLAVA-Flex12sec1.75.615SPECIALPhase 2.0   
Slice 1.5
Yes
Imaging typek-spaceIn-plane 
resolution 
(mm)
Slice 
thickness 
(mm)
FOV 
(mm)
Rectangu-lar 
FOV(%)
Phase direction 
(step number)
Read direction 
(matrix number)
Slice Gap 
(mm)
Slice 
number
Three-dimensional partition number
Dual echo1.2*1.85.03608029220076*21
Contrast agent administration
DynamicSequential1.1*1.94.0360803201921044
DWI3.1*3.15.04201001281280.572
T2WI0.9*0.95.03601003843840.536
HBPSequential1.1*1.94.0360803201921041

Devices used and contrast conditions

MRI deviceDISCOVERY MR750w 3.0T
Automatic injection deviceSonic Shot 7
WorkstationAW VolumeShare7
Contrast conditions Dose (mL)Administration rate  
(mL/s)
Imaging timing after contrast agent injection (s)
Gadoxetate disodium(Gd-EOB-DTPA)73.035  
70  
110
Physiological saline solution for flushing402

Usefulness of Gadoxetate disodium(Gd-EOB-DTPA) contrast MRI with this patient

With a hepatic metastasis that could not be readily found with CT, and with which PET-CT showed only slight accumulation, EOB-MRI showed decreased diffusion, and in the hepatobiliary phase clear decrease in EOB uptake was found, so chemotherapy was reinitiated. EOB-MRI was capable of sensitive detection of a hepatic metastasis, despite the lesion being difficult to assess with PET-CT due to physiological accumulation in the liver, and EOB-MRI is therefore considered to be useful for definite diagnosis of hepatic metastases.

Precautions relating to administration

9. Precautions relating to patients with specific background factors (taken from the Package Insert)  
9.8 Elderly patients  
Administration must be performed with care, and with sufficient monitoring of the patient’s condition.  
Elderly patients generally have depressed physiological function.

  • *The case introduced is just one clinical case, so the results are not the same as for all cases.
  • *Please refer to the Package Insert for the effects and indications, dosage and administration method, and warnings, contraindications, and other precautions with use.