Imaging of the liver.

The liver continues to be a focus for various imaging methods, but MR imaging received most of the attention with new sequences or modifications of older techniques. Primary and secondary focal liver lesions were studied using various techniques, and most researchers agreed that characterization of lesions is the domain of MR imaging. For actual detection of lesions, particularly for number and size of lesions, CT, especially CT during arterial portography, was still considered the methods of choice. Innovative approaches included three-dimensional image analysis of metastases for segmental localization and fusion of images from several cross-sectional studies for improved characterization of lesions. Assessment of fatty infiltration in the liver was investigated using both CT and MR imaging, but the definitive role of cross-sectional imaging for this purpose is not yet established. Evaluation of venous vascular systems was also investigated using both color Doppler ultrasound and MR imaging, but the role of these techniques vis-á-vis each other needs further definition. Spectroscopy continued to advance but current limitations in localization and processing techniques prevented an enthusiastic endorsement by clinicians. Its potential for assessment of tumor response to chemotherapy is substantial.