Hypervascular Hepatocellular Carcinoma Nodules Research Articles

Gadoxetic acid-enhanced high temporal-resolution hepatic arterial-phase imaging with view-sharing technique: Impact on the LI-RADS category

PurposeTo evaluate the value of view-sharing multi-hepatic arterial-phase (mHAP) imaging for diagnosis of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and methodsForty-seven consecutive patients with HCC underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging before angiographic and lipiodol CT. Hepatic arterial-phase images were obtained at 5 consecutive phases with shared central k-space of 25%, followed by portal venous, late (2 and 3min), and hepatobiliary phase imaging. One-hundred-eight HCC nodules (size: 5–88mm, mean size: 18.2mm) confirmed on angiographic CT and lipiodol CT were evaluated for LI-RADS category and compared with single arterial-phase and mHAP findings regarding wash out, capsule, corona enhancement, and image quality. ResultsTwenty-four HCCs (22.2%) (size: 6–19mm, mean size: 12.3mm) were categorized as LR-3 based on the single arterial-phase. Capsule appearance (25.9%) and washout (57.4%) were most frequently observed in late phase (2min). Corona enhancement was observed in 73.1% of all HCCs on mHAP. For the 24 HCCs of LR-3, corona enhancement was observed in 75% on mHAP and contributed to upgrade category. No significant difference was found in the frequency of corona enhancement between mHAP and angiographic CT (P=0.11). Image quality was valued as good or excellent in all cases. ConclusionView-sharing mHAP was feasible without compromising image quality and contributed to the improvement in diagnostic confidence for hypervascular HCC in gadoxetic acid-enhance MR imaging.

Comparison of Image Quality and Diagnostic Performance of Cone-Beam CT during Drug-Eluting Embolic Transarterial Chemoembolization and Multidetector CT in the Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PurposeTo compare image quality and diagnostic performance of cone-beam computed tomography (CT) and multidetector CT in the detection of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis undergoing transarterial chemoembolization with drug-eluting embolic agents. Materials and MethodsFifty-five consecutive patients referred for chemoembolization of hypervascular HCC were prospectively enrolled. Imaging included preprocedural multidetector CT within 1 month before planned treatment, intraprocedural cone-beam CT, and 1-month follow-up multidetector CT. Analysis of image quality was performed with calculations of lesion-to-liver contrast-to-noise ratio (LLCNR) and lesion-to-liver signal-to-noise-ratio (LLSNR). One-month follow-up multidetector CT was considered the reference standard for the detection of HCC nodules. ResultsMedian LLCNR values were 3.94 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.06–5.05) for preprocedural multidetector CT and 6.90 (95% CI, 5.17–7.77) for intraprocedural cone-beam CT (P < .0001). Median LLSNR values were 11.53 (95% CI, 9.51–12.44) for preprocedural multidetector CT and 9.36 (95% CI, 8.12–10.39) for intraprocedural cone-beam CT (P < .0104). Preprocedural multidetector CT detected 115 hypervascular nodules with typical HCC behavior, and cone-beam CT detected 15 additional hypervascular nodules that were also visible on 1-month follow-up multidetector CT. ConclusionsCone-beam CT has a significantly higher diagnostic performance compared with preprocedural multidetector CT in the detection of HCCs and can influence management of patients with cirrhosis by identifying particularly aggressive tumors.

Diffusion kurtosis imaging to assess response to treatment in hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma.

The objective of our study was to compare diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) with conventional diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for assessing the response to treatment in hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Sixty-two consecutive patients with treated or untreated hypervascular HCC underwent MRI of the liver including DKI (b values of 0, 100, 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 s/mm(2)). The mean kurtosis (MK) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the hepatic parenchyma and of the HCCs were computed. The detectability of viable HCC based on MK and ADC values was compared. We also assessed the correlation between Child-Pugh grades and MK or ADC values. For a total of 112 HCC nodules (viable, n = 63; nonviable, n = 49), the MK value was significantly higher for the viable group (mean ± SD, 0.81 ± 0.11) than for the non-viable group (0.57 ± 0.11) (p < 0.001). The mean ADC value was significantly lower for the viable group (1.44 ± 0.42 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s) than for the nonviable group (1.94 ± 0.52 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s) (p < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of the ROC curve for the assessment of HCC viability were greater (p < 0.001) using MK (85.7%, 98.0%, and 0.95, respectively; cutoff value = 0.710) than using ADC (79.6%, 68.3%, and 0.77, respectively; cutoff value = 1.535 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s). Although the ADC of hepatic parenchyma was lower in patients with Child-Pugh grade B or C disease than in those with grade A disease (p = 0.02), no significant difference in MK (p = 0.45) was found among the Child-Pugh grades. DKI can be a new option for the assessment of posttherapeutic response in HCC.

Assessment of malignant potential of small hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma using B‐mode ultrasonography

Evaluation of malignant potential is important to determine the treatment strategy for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of the present study was to establish a method of assessing the malignant potential of small hypervascular HCC using B-mode ultrasonography. One hundred and thirteen arterial hypervascular HCC nodules under 3 cm diagnosed by biopsy or surgical resection (20.5 ± 6.3 mm) were classified into two groups ultrasonographically: type 1 with (n = 27) and type 2 without (n = 86) a halo. Type 2 was categorized into three subgroups: type 2a, homogenous hyperechoic (n = 9); type 2b, hypoechoic with a smooth margin (n = 35); and type 2c, hypoechoic with an irregular or unclear margin (n = 42). The mean diameter of type 2a nodules was significantly smaller than that of other HCC types (P < 0.05). Overall, moderately differentiated HCC was the predominant histological type, except for type 2a, all of which were well-differentiated HCC. The percentage of poorly differentiated HCC was significantly higher in type 2c nodules (19%) than in other HCC types (P < 0.01). The percentage of Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive α-fetoprotein (AFP-L3) positivity was significantly higher in type 2c nodules (55%) than in other HCC types (P < 0.01). Classification on B-mode ultrasonography was correlated with the histological differentiation and serum level, an indicator of a poor prognosis. The malignant potential of type 2a is the lowest and that of type 2c is the highest, both histologically and serologically. Assessment of the malignant potential of small, hypervascular HCC is possible by B-mode ultrasonography.

Triple-phase computed tomography during arterial portography with bolus tracking for hepatic tumors

The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of triple-phase computed tomography during arterial portography (CTAP) using a bolus-tracking technique. The subjects were 60 patients with hepatic tumors: 20 patients with metastatic liver tumors with a normal liver and 40 with hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with liver cirrhosis. The region of interest was set in the portal vein, and CTAP was automatically started after the triggering threshold (180 HU) was reached. Three scans were performed: early phase (E), hepatic parenchymal phase (HP), and late phase (L). The scan start time of E-CTAP was measured. The detection rates of the HCC nodules were evaluated during each CTAP phase. CTAP was performed by bolus tracking without failure in any of the patients. The mean scan start times in the normal liver group and liver cirrhosis group were 14.3 +/- 1.34 s and 18.5 +/- 2.46 s, respectively, which were significantly different from each other. The detection rates of HCC nodules for E-CTAP, HP-CTAP, and L-CTAP were 29.6%, 100%, and 83.3%, respectively. The bolus-tracking technique enabled us to perform CTAP with optimal timing regardless of the portal blood flow dynamics.

Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation and Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization for Hypervascular Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Rate and Risk Factors for Local Recurrence

To analyze local recurrence-free rates and risk factors for recurrence following percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). One hundred and nine nodules treated by RFA and 173 nodules treated by TACE were included. Hypovascular nodules were excluded from this study. Overall local recurrence-free rates of each treatment group were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The independent risk factors of local recurrence and the hazard ratios were analyzed using Cox's proportional-hazards regression model. Based on the results of multivariate analyses, we classified HCC nodules into four subgroups: central nodules < or =2 cm or >2 cm and peripheral nodules < or =2 cm or >2 cm. The local recurrence-free rates of these subgroups for each treatment were also calculated. The overall local recurrence-free rate was significantly higher in the RFA group than in the TACE group (p = 0.013). The 24-month local recurrence-free rates in the RFA and TACE groups were 60.0% and 48.9%, respectively. In the RFA group, the only significant risk factor for recurrence was tumor size >2 cm in greatest dimension. In the TACE group, a central location was the only significant risk factor for recurrence. In central nodules that were < or =2 cm, the local recurrence-free rate was significantly higher in the RFA group than in the TACE group (p < 0.001). In the remaining three groups, there was no significant difference in local recurrence-free rate between the two treatment methods. A tumor diameter of >2 cm was the only independent risk factor for local recurrence in RFA treatment, and a central location was the only independent risk factor in TACE treatment. Central lesions measuring < or =2 cm should be treated by RFA.

Sensitivity in detection of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma by helical CT with intra-arterial injection of contrast medium, and by helical CT and MR imaging with intravenous injection of contrast medium.

To determine the effectiveness of i.a. contrast-enhanced helical CT and of i.v. contrast-enhanced helical CT and MR imaging, in detecting hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Fifty patients with 125 hypervascular HCC nodules underwent helical CT both during arterial portography (CTAP) and during hepatic arteriography (CTHA). Helical CT and MR imaging of the entire liver with i.v. administration of contrast medium were also performed. Helical CT images were obtained at 30-33 s (arterial-phase CT) and at 5 min (equilibrium-phase CT) after the initiation of an i.v. bolus injection of contrast medium. After T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo MR imaging, gradient-echo images during breath-holding were obtained prior to and 20 s, 1 min, and 2 min after the bolus administration of 0.1 mmol/kg of gadopentetate dimeglumine (dynamic MR). The sensitivity and positive predictive value of the various techniques were evaluated and compared. In terms of sensitivity for hypervascular HCC nodules of less than 1 cm in diameter, CTAP (90%) and CTHA (88%) were significantly superior to dynamic MR imaging (44%), arterial-phase CT (39%), spin-echo MR imaging (20%), and equilibrium-phase CT (7%) (p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the techniques with regard to the detection of lesions equal to or more than 2 cm in diameter. For detecting small hypervascular HCCs, helical CT with i.a. contrast enhancement is superior to helical CT and MR imaging with i.v. enhancement.

Helical CT during arterial portography and hepatic arteriography for detecting hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma.

We assessed whether helical CT hepatic arteriography (CTHA) improves detection of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) when used in conjunction with helical CT obtained during arterial portography (CTAP). One hundred two patients with 254 hypervascular HCC nodules underwent both CTHA and CTAP. CTHA and CTAP were separately interpreted for detection of hypervascular HCC nodules by three observers who were unaware of tumor burden in the liver, lodized oil CT performed 1 week and 1 month after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization with iodized oil was the gold standard. Sensitivity and positive predictive value for CTHA alone, CTAP alone, and CTAP and CTHA combined were calculated and compared using the McNemar test. We found no significant difference between the sensitivity of CTAP (85%) and CTHA (87%) for revealing hypervascular HCC nodules. The combination of CTAP and CTHA showed significantly higher sensitivity than either CTAP or CTHA alone for revealing HCC nodules smaller than 20 mm in diameter (p < .01). The combination of CTHA and CTAP is recommended to improve the detection sensitivity of small hypervascular HCC nodules.