Extracellular contrast agent-enhanced MRI: 15-min delayed phase may improve the diagnostic performance for hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic liver disease.

• Additional acquisition of 15-min delayed phase (FDP) requires approximately 20 s. • About 5 % of HCCs show washout or capsule appearance only in FDP. • Including FDP improves the sensitivity of extracellular contrast agent-enhanced MRI for HCC. • These results are applicable only to patients with chronic liver disease.