Test Accuracy of CT-Scan for the Detection of Malignant Liver Mass

Wahida Begum,Khondker Shaheed Hussain,Biswajit Bhowmik,Md Abdullah Yusuf

doi:10.4236/act.2015.42004

Abstract

Background: Detection of malignant liver mass is very important for the treatment modalities. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to establish the usefulness of CT scan in the diagnosis of malignant hepatic mass. Methodology: This cross sectional study was carried out in the Department of Radiology and Imaging at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH), Mymensingh, Banghabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka and Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Dhaka during the period of 1st January 2006 to 31st December 2007. Patients admitted in the Department of Medicine and Department of Hepatobiliary of MMCH, BSMMU, and DMCH with the clinical diagnosis of fever, abdominal pain, anorexia, nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, jaundice, weight loss and ascites were selected as study population. CT scan and histopathology were performed to all the patients. Result: A total number of 50 patients were recruited for this study. Mean age of all patients was 51.28 ± 14 years with a range of 17 year to 78 years. Among all patients 28 had multiple lesion, of them 71.4% was malignant and 28.6% was benign. On the other side 22 patients had solitary lesion, of them 36.4% was malignant and 63.6% was benign (p < 0.05). Sensitivity of CT to diagnose malignant lesion was 96.4%, specificity 86.4%, accuracy 92%, positive predictive value 90% and negative predictive value 95%. Conclusion: CT is a useful diagnostic tool for the detection of malignant hepatic masses.

Highlights

Especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is the most common primary malignant tumour of the liver representing more than 80% of all primary hepatic malignancies [1]
On CT-scan, HCC appears as low density lesions as these are supplied mainly by arterial blood rather than portal venous blood and insufficient blood flow in the hepatic artery contributes to necrosis of hepatic tissue and to further lowering of the density of CT-scan [3]
Study Group and Examination Technique. This cross sectional study was carried out in the Department of Radiology and Imaging of three tertiary care hospitals in Bangladesh named as Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh; Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka and Banghabandhu Sfheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka in collaboration with the Department of Pathology of the same institute for histopathological diagnosis from 1st January 2006 to 31st December 2007 for a period of 2 years

Summary

Introduction

Especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is the most common primary malignant tumour of the liver representing more than 80% of all primary hepatic malignancies [1]. It is relatively common in equatorial Africa and Asia, rare in United States [2]. With the exception of some hepatic lesions containing calcium, extravasated blood, fat or densely enhanced parts, the CT-scan appearance of liver tumours is similar and nonspecific regardless of their histologic type [4]. Hepatocellular adenoma is the most common benign liver tumours. The present study was designed to evaluate the role of CT-scan in the evaluation of malignant hepatic mass and was correlated with histopathology

Study Group and Examination Technique

Statistical Analyses

Result

Discussion

Findings

Conclusion