Figure 2
54 year-old male patient with cirrhosis secondary to chronic hepatitis B virus infection and HCC. (a) Representative magnified parametric maps of a large (8.3 cm) HCC. Location of the tumour within the liver is indicated by the white arrow on the T2-weighted image (bottom row, right). A distinct region in the anterior portion of the tumour of high arterial flow (Fa) and low R2* was observed, reflective of high tumour perfusion and normoxia (grey arrow in Fa and R2* pre O2 maps). The posterior portion of the tumour displays low Fa and high R2*, suggestive of poor perfusion and hypoxia (white arrow in Fa and R2* pre O2 maps). (b) Histograms of Fa, R2* pre O2, R1 pre O2 and ADC in the same lesion. The extensive heterogeneity observed in the parameter maps of Fa and R2* pre O2 is also reflected in the histograms, as illustrated by the fat tails and pronounced skewness, indicated by arrows. The R1 pre O2 histogram also exhibited skewness (black arrow). ADC = apparent diffusion coefficient, ART = arterial fraction, DV = distribution volume, Fa = arterial flow, Fp = portal flow, Ft = total flow, MTT = mean transit time, R1 = longitudinal relaxation rate, R2* = transverse relaxation rate.
