A novel method for evaluating enhancement using gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid in the hepatobiliary phase of magnetic resonance imaging

To investigate whether quantitative liver-portal vein contrast ratio (Q-LPC) can be used as a substitute for quantitative liver-spleen contrast ratio (Q-LSC) in the hepatobiliary phase (HBP) contrasting degree. Q-LSC and Q-LPC were calculated in HBP images that were obtained approximately 20 min after gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid injection, and relationship between them was evaluated. A very strong correlation was observed between Q-LSC and Q-LPC with respect to Child–Pugh class. Furthermore, Q-LPC values were not significantly different between patients with splenectomy or Gamna–Gandy bodies and those without. Therefore, Q-LPC can be useful instead of Q-LSC in patients with splenectomy or Gamna–Gandy bodies.