AIM:To evaluate the value of superparamagnetic iron oxide(SPIO)enhanced MRI in characterizing focal hepaticlesions.METHODS:Fourty-three patients(32 men,11 women,meanage 51 years,age range 25-74 years)with previouslyidentified focal hepatic lesions were enrolled into this study.All the patients underwent plain,Gd-DTPA enhanced MRIand the SPIO enhanced MRI 1-7d later.The surgico-pathologic diagnosis was established in 31 cases and thediagnosis in other 12 cases was made on the basis of clinicalfindings and biochemical tests,The signal changes oflesions were analyzed and the CNRs of lesion-to-liver weremeasured before and after SPIO enhancement.The datawere analyzed by paired t test.RESULTS:Focal hepatic lesions included primaryhepatocellular carcinoma(HCC,n=22),hemangioma(n=5),cyst(n=4),metastases(n=5),cirrhotic nodule(n=4),focal nodular hyperplasia(FNH,n=5)and othermiscellaneous lesions(n=6).After SPIO enhancement,HCC demonstrated iso-or slight hyperintensity on T1 WI andmoderate hyperintersity on T2WI,hemangioma showedmoderate hyperintensity on TIWI and obvious hyperintensityon T2WI,the SI of cyst had no change either on TIWI or onT2WI,cirrhotic nodules revealed iso-intensity on T2WI,andthe SI of FNH decreased significantly on T2WI.No specificmanifestations were found in the other 6 miscellaneouslesions after SPIO enhancement.CONCLUSION:SPIO enhanced-MRI can improve thecharacterization confidence for diagnosis of focal hepaticlesions. AIM: To evaluate the value of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) enhanced MRI in characterizing focal hepaticles. METHODS: Fourty-three patients (32 men, 11 women, meanage 51 years, age range 25-74 years) with previouslyidentified focal hepatic lesions were enrolled into this study. All patients underwent plain, Gd-DTPA enhanced MRI and the SPIO enhanced MRI 1-7d later. The surgico-pathologic diagnosis was established in 31 cases and the diagnosis of other 12 cases was made on the basis of clinical findings and biochemical tests, The signal changes oflesions were analyzed and the CNRs of lesion-to-liver weremeasured before and after SPIO enhancement.The datawere analyzed by paired t test .RESULTS: Focal hepatic lesions included primaryhepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, n = 22), hemangioma n = 5), cyst (n = 4), metastases (n = 5), cirrhotic nodules (n = 4), focal nodular hyperplasia (n = 5) and other miscellaneous lesions HCC demonstrated iso-or slight hyperintensity on T1 WI and moderate hyperi ntersity on T2WI, hemangioma showedmoderate hyperintensity on TIWI and obvious hyperintensity T2WI, the SI of cyst had no change either on TIWI or onT2WI, cirrhotic nodules revealed iso-intensity on T2WI, and the SI of FNH decreased significantly on T2WI. No specific manifestations were found in the other 6 miscellaneouslesions after SPIO enhancement. CONCLUSION: SPIO enhanced-MRI can improve the characterization confidence for diagnosis of focal hepatisions.