Figure 2
Comparison of T1 maps acquired with a variable-flip-angle MR sequence before (1st column) and 20 min after (2nd column) the administration of Gd-EOB-DTPA for HCCs (A-D) with differential OATP1B3 expression (4th column, immunostaining OATP1B3). The 3rd column displays the corresponding T1-weighted VIBE sequence with fat suppression in the hepatobiliary phase. All images displayed were taken with the same window and center level. The scale on the histopathology images represents 500 μm. (a) Well-differentiated HCC with high OATP1B3 expression on all tumor cells (score 12); the HCC and the surrounding liver parenchyma (normal liver parenchyma) showed high uptake of Gd-EOB-DTPA, with a reduction rate of 0.59 within the tumor. (b) Well-differentiated HCC with heterogeneous OATP1B3 expression: high OATP1B3 expression on the right side and low expression on the left side on tumor cells (score 6); the split within the tumor can be clearly visualized on the MR image; the T1 reduction rate was 0.49 for the HCC. (c) Well-differentiated HCC with minimal OATP1B3 expression on only a few tumor cells (score 1); heterogeneous uptake is also visible on the MR images, resulting in a tumor reduction rate of 0.22. (d) Poorly differentiated (macrotrabecular subtype) HCC with no OATP1B3 expression on tumor cells (score 0). By comparing the plain and enhanced images, only a few changes can be noticed, with a tumor reduction rate of 0.15.
