Dynamic 3-dimensional Fourier transformation (3 DFT)-FISP MR imaging was performed in 30 patients with 49 liver tumors (hepatocellular carcinoma 26, hemangioma 13, cholangiocellular carcinoma 2, metastatic liver tumor 8) to evaluate characteristic enhancement patterns. MR images of 3 DFT-FISP (TR/TE/flip angle/slab thickness/partition/slice thickness, 20 msec/8 msec/30 degree/21-75 mm/7 or 15/3-5 mm) were obtained before, just after (early phase), 1 min after (late phase 1) and 2-4 min after (late phase 2) the administration of 0.1 mmol/kg of Gd-DTPA. Twenty-three of the 26 (88%) hepatocellular carcinomas showed total hyperintense enhancement relative to surrounding liver parenchyma in the early phase, and isointense or total hypointense enhancement in the late phase. Eleven of 13 (85%) hemangiomas showed peripheral hyperintense enhancement in the early phase, and peripheral or total hyperintense enhancement in the late phase. Cholangiocellular carcinomas were enhanced gradually from the early to the late phase. Metastatic liver tumors showed doughnut-like ring enhancement in all 8 lesions in the early phase. We concluded that 3 DFT-FISP dynamic MR imaging was useful in the differential diagnosis of liver tumor.