Table 1.

AMRI approaches

	Sequences	Pros	Cons
NC-AMRI	T1 weighted in-phase and out-of-phase T2 weighted imaging Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI)	Cheapest approach Avoids risk of GBCA No issues with contrast timing	Relies on unenhanced imaging Heavily dependent on DWI imaging, which is prone to artifacts in the upper abdomen HCC may not exhibit restricted diffusion
Dynamic-AMRI	Pre-contrast imaging Arterial phase imaging Portal venous phase imaging Delayed phase imaging	Allows definitive diagnosis of HCC Allows diagnosis of tumor in vein Cheaper contrast agent options	Inability to detect ancillary features of HCC Risk of miscategorization of vascular pseudolesions Dependence on contrast timing, thus repeat imaging requires repeat dose of GBCA or repeat exam Requires power injector
HBP-AMRI	Hepatobiliary phase imaging T2 weighted imaging DWI (optional)	High contrast-to-noise Contrast material can be hand injected in waiting room Contrast material is retained in the liver for prolonged duration providing a long imaging window and allowing all sequences to be repeated if necessary Established scoring system based on LI-RADS US	Contrast agent is expensive Lesions may be obscured by severe cirrhosis Can detect very early HCCs that cannot be confirmed with currently available call-back tests

AMRI: Abbreviated magnetic resonance imaging; GBCA: gadolinium-based contrast agent; HCC: hepatocellular carcinoma; LI-RADS: Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System; US: ultrasound; HBP: hepatobiliary phase