Imaging features of hepatocellular carcinoma compared to intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and combined tumor on MRI using liver imaging and data system (LI-RADS) version 2014.

Abstract

To evaluate the prevalence of major and ancillary imaging features from liver imaging reporting and data systems (LI-RADS) version 2014 and their interreader agreement when comparing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and combined tumor (cHCC-CC). The Institutional Review Board approved this HIPAA-compliant retrospective study and waived the requirement for patients' informed consent. Patients with resected HCC (n=51), ICC (n=40), and cHCC-CC (n=11) and available pre-operative contrast-enhanced MRI were included from 2000 to 2015. Imaging features and final LI-RADS category were evaluated by four radiologists. Imaging features were compared by Fisher's exact test and interreader agreements were assessed by κ statistics. None of the features were unique to either HCC or non-HCC. Imaging features that were significantly more common among HCC compared to ICC and cHCC-CC included washout (76%-78% vs. 10%-35%, p<0.001), capsule (55%-71% vs. 16%-49%, p<0.05), and intralesional fat (27%-52% vs. 2%-12%, p<0.002). Features that were more common among ICC and cHCC-CC included peripheral arterial phase hyperenhancement (40%-64% vs. 10%-14%, p<0.001) and progressive central enhancement (65%-82% vs. 14%-25%, p<0.001). The interreader agreement was moderate for each of these imaging features (κ=0.41-0.55). Moderate agreement was also achieved in the assignment of LR-M (κ=0.53), with an overall sensitivity and specificity for non-HCC malignancy of 86.3% and 78.4%, respectively. HCC and non-HCC show significant differences in the prevalence of imaging features defined by LI-RADS, and are identified by radiologists with moderate interreader agreement. Using LI-RADS, radiologists also achieved moderate interreader agreement in the assignment of the LR-M category.