Evolving strategies in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CE-US), con- trast CT scan and gadolinium dynamic MRI are recommended for the characterization of liver nodules detected during surveillance of patients with cirrhosis with US. Aim: To assess the sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy and economic impact of all possible sequential combinations of contrast imaging techniques in patients with cirrhosis with 1-2 cm liver nod- ules undergoing US surveillance. Methods: Sixty four patients with 67 de novo liver nodules (55 with a size of 1-2 cm) were consecutively examined by CE-US, CT, MRI, and a fine-needle biopsy (FNB) as a diagnostic standard. Undiagnosed nodules were re-biopsied; non-malignant nodules underwent enhanced imaging follow-up. The typical radiological feature of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was arterial phase hypervascularisation followed by portal/venous phase washout. Results: HCC was diagnosed in 44 (66%) nodules (2, 2 cm). The sensitivity of CE-US, CT and MRI for 1-2 cm HCC was 26%, 44% and 44%, repectively, with 100% specific- ity; the typical vascular pattern of HCC being identified in 22 (65%) by a single technique versus 12 (35%) by at least two techniques car- ried out at the same time point (p = 0.028). Compared with the cheapest dual examination (CE-US + CT), the cheapest single tech- nique of stepwise imaging diagnosis of HCC was equally expensive (euro 26,440 versus euro 28,667) but led to a 23% reduction of FNB procedures (p = 0.031). Conclusions: In patients with cirrhosis with a 1-2 cm nodule detected during surveillance, a single imaging technique showing a typical contrast pattern confidently permits the diagnosis of HCC, thereby reducing the need for FNB examinations.