Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to find some points that may help the differential diagnosis of ring
lesions in magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the liver through recognition of the characteristics of the morphology
and the signal intensities of the ring lesions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: T1- and T2-weighted axial spin-echo images and gadolinium-enhanced
Tl-weighted images were obtained with a 1.0 T superconducting MR imager. We reviewed the MR findings of 23
hepatic ring lesions which were confirmed as hepatocellular carcinomas (13), metastases (4), liver abscesses
(4), hydatid cyst (1), and hematoma (1).
RESULTS: There were 19 single rings and 4 double rings (all the cases were liver abscesses) on Tl-weighted
images, and 8 single rings and 14 double rings on T2-weighted images. The signal intensity of the ring was low
in hepatocellular carcinoma on Tl-weighted images and in hydatid cyst on T2-weighted images. It was high on
Tl-weighted images in subacute hemaroma. Target lesion as an inner high-signal-intensity ring surrounded by
a high-signal-intensity ring on T2-weighted images was seen in metatasis, liver abscess, and hepatocellular
carcinoma.
CONCLUSION: It is helpful to recognize the chracteristics of morphology and signal intensities of the ring
lesions in the differential diagnosis of hepatic focal lesions.