Unique portal venous phase imaging discordance between CEUS and MRI: a valuable predictor of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma?

Abstract

We have long noted unique portal venous phase (PVP) imaging discordance of focal liver masses between CEUS, showing rapid marked washout, and MRI, showing progressive or sustained enhancement. We postulate association of this unique discordance with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and causal relationship to different contrast agent behavior. We investigate this unique discordance, propose its clinical significance for ICC diagnosis, and confirm further histologic associations. Cases were collected within our CEUS department and from pathology records over a ten-year interval. This retrospective review includes 99 patients, 73 with confirmed ICC and 26 other diagnoses,showing unique PVP discordance. The CEUS and MRI enhancement characteristics were compared for all patients. Unique discordance is identified in 67/73 (92%) ICC and difference between the PVP appearance on MRI and CEUS is statistically significant (p< 0.0001). Arterial phase enhancement did not show statistically significant difference between CEUS and MRI, p> 0.05. Other diagnoses showing unique discordance include especially lymphoma (n=7), sclerosed hemangioma (n=6), HCC (n=4), metastases (n=2), and other rare entities. ICC shows this discrepant intermodality enhancement pattern in a statistically significant number of cases and should be considered along with other LR-M features in at-risk patients. Discordance is also rarely seen in a number of other liver lesions.