Biopsy practices for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Abstract

e15646 Background: American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) guidelines endorse radiographic diagnosis of HCC if key features are present on dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging (arterial hyperenhancement and venous washout) with biopsy for those without these features. As many HCC patients (pts) are diagnosed outside liver transplant centers, we sought to describe the methods of diagnosis of HCC and factors associated with biopsy in routine care in the US. Methods: HCC cases were identified from 2 data sources: SEER-Medicare (M) 2004-2011 and North Carolina Central Cancer Registry (NCCCR) linked to Medicare, Medicaid and private claims 2004-2013. Diagnostic confirmation was identified from registries as pathologic (path) or clinical. Key covariates included age, cancer stage, cause and severity of cirrhosis, and comorbid disease. Specialty consultation, prediagnosis imaging, AFP testing were determined from claims -3 to 0 months from diagnosis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with path. Results: Path was obtained in a majority of HCC pts: 68% of 10,989 in SEER-M, 72% of 1,809 in NCCCR. In SEER-M, claims for contrasted abdominal CT were more common in those with path than those without (34 vs 30%) but not for MRI (14 vs 14%). Odds of path was higher in pts with contrasted CT (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.30-1.69) or MRI (OR 1.53, CI 1.31-1.80) vs pts without imaging. In NCCCR, CT (51 vs 41%) and MRI (35 vs 34%) were performed more. Both were associated with increased odds of biopsy vs pts without imaging: contrasted CT scan (OR 1.74, CI 1.22-2.47) or MRI (OR 1.48, CI 1.02-2.13). In neither cohort did ultrasound increase odds of path over no imaging. Pts seen by an oncologist (OR SEER-M 1.66, CI 1.46-1.89) were more likely to have path than pts not seen by oncology. In SEER-M, pts seen at abdominal transplant centers were less likely to have path (OR 0.87, CI 0.77-0.98). Conclusions: Most pts diagnosed with HCC had path confirmation of cancer despite internationally accepted guidelines supporting radiographic diagnosis. The use of biopsy was greater among those with cross-sectional imaging, suggesting this high biopsy rate cannot solely be explained by nondiagnostic imaging.