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Naganuma H, Ishida H. Demonstration of Hepatic Vein Abnormalities Using Contrast-Enhanced Sonography in Liver Diseases. Diagnostics (Basel) 2025; 15:709. [PMID: 40150052 PMCID: PMC11941399 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15060709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2025] [Revised: 03/07/2025] [Accepted: 03/10/2025] [Indexed: 03/29/2025] Open
Abstract
Contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) is now widely used to observe the hemodynamics of the liver. The CEUS diagnosis mainly consists of evaluating hepatic artery and portal vein flow changes in liver diseases, but it has not been widely used for the diagnosis of hepatic venous (HV) abnormalities in the clinical setting. For this background, this review tried to reconsider this problem. In short, observing HV CEUS findings, especially HV transit time, serves to largely narrow the differential diagnosis and increase the diagnostic confidence of the CEUS. However, diagnosing HV CEUS diagnosis in a wide range of liver diseases requires understanding of vascular anatomy of the upper abdomen and vascular structure of each disease. Additionally, interpreting CEUS findings of HCC should be prudent, because its drainage vessels change according to the histological progression, from the HV to the portal vein. Thus, the most important way of making use of the CEUS information is interpreting it in conjunction with the clinical data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroko Naganuma
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yokote Municipal Hospital, Yokote 013-8602, Japan
| | - Hideaki Ishida
- Department of Gastroenterology, Akita Red Cross Hospital, Akita 010-1495, Japan
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2
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Kawamura Y, Itou H, Kida A, Sunakawa H, Suzuki M, Kawamura K. Therapeutic response and prognostic factors of 14 dogs undergoing transcatheter arterial embolization for hepatocellular masses: A retrospective study. J Vet Intern Med 2023; 37:1455-1465. [PMID: 37224273 PMCID: PMC10365048 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Information regarding the therapeutic effect and outcome of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for hepatic masses is limited in veterinary medicine. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES To analyze the therapeutic response, outcome (overall survival), and their predictors in dogs that underwent TAE for primary hepatocellular masses. We hypothesized that larger pre-TAE tumors would be associated with worse outcomes. ANIMALS Fourteen client-owned dogs. METHODS Retrospective study. Medical records between 1 September 2016 and 30 April 2022 were reviewed to identify dogs treated with TAE for hepatic masses diagnosed as hepatocellular origin by cytological or histopathological examination. Computed tomography images were compared before and after TAE. The univariate Cox proportional hazards test was performed to assess the associations between variables and survival. Univariate linear regression analysis was performed to assess the associations between variables and the tumor reduction percentage: ([post-TAE volume - pre-TAE volume]/pre-TAE volume) × 100. RESULTS The median survival time was 419 days (95% confidence interval, 82-474). History of intra-abdominal hemorrhage (P = .03) and pre-TAE tumor volume/body weight (P = .009) were significantly associated with overall survival. The mean reduction percentage was -51% ± 40%. Pre-TAE tumor volume/body weight ratio (cm3 /kg; P = .02, correlation coefficient = 0.704) was significantly correlated with the volume reduction percentage. CONCLUSIONS History of intra-abdominal hemorrhage and large pre-TAE tumor volume/body weight ratio could be predictive factors for adverse outcomes after TAE. Pre-TAE tumor volume/body weight ratio could be a predictive factor for therapeutic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Kawamura
- Kawamura Animal HospitalNiigata CityJapan
- Department of Radiology, Division of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of MedicineYamagata UniversityIida‐NishiJapan
| | | | | | | | - Moe Suzuki
- Kawamura Animal HospitalNiigata CityJapan
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Triple-Phase Multidetector Computed Tomography in Distinguishing Canine Hepatic Lesions. Animals (Basel) 2020; 11:ani11010011. [PMID: 33374833 PMCID: PMC7823275 DOI: 10.3390/ani11010011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The goal of this study was to find any associations between the histologic diagnosis and the radiodensity of liver lesions. Thirty-one dogs with focal or multifocal liver lesions undergoing computed tomography examination were included in the study. Computed tomography examinations were performed before and after the application of a contrast medium, and postcontrast images were obtained in three different vascular phases; the arterial, portal, and delayed venous phases. A histological diagnosis was subsequently obtained for all of the dogs. From the results, no significant differences were identified between the benign and malignant liver lesions, nor between the individual histological types of lesions. The conclusion from this study is that triple-phase contrast-enhanced computed tomography cannot differentiate between benign and malignant liver lesions. Biopsy and further histological analysis are necessary. Abstract The liver has a unique vascular supply, and triple-phase contrast-enhanced computed tomography examinations are being performed in order to characterize liver lesions. This study aimed to look for any associations between the attenuation values of liver lesions and their histological classification. The inclusion criteria for this retrospective study were focal or multifocal liver lesions and histological diagnosis. All of the dogs underwent pre-contrast and triple-phase postcontrast computed tomography (CT) examinations with identical timings of the postcontrast series. Thirty-one dogs were included in the study, and various benign and malignant pathologies were identified. The results did not identify any significant differences between the benign and malignant liver lesions, nor between the individual histological diagnoses. Inflammatory lesions were significantly different compared to the normal liver parenchyma, and significant hypoattenuation was found in the portal and delayed venous phases. Hemangiosarcomas were significantly hypoattenuating to the normal liver parenchyma in the pre-contrast and arterial phases, and also to all of the benign lesions in the arterial phase. The other pathologies showed variable attenuation patterns in the different postcontrast phases, and differentiation was not possible. On the basis of this study, triple-phase contrast-enhanced computed tomography cannot differentiate between benign and malignant liver lesions, and biopsy and further histological analysis are necessary.
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Ogawa M, Matsumoto N, Kaneko M, Kumagawa M, Watanabe Y, Hirayama M, Moriyama M, Higaki T, Takayama T, Sugitani M. Hepatic hemangioma supplied by abnormal portal vein: A case report. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND : JCU 2020; 48:231-234. [PMID: 31721219 DOI: 10.1002/jcu.22790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Hepatic hemangioma is the most common hepatic tumor with a prevalence of approximately 3%. It is typically supplied by the hepatic artery as evident from findings of abdominal angiography, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. However, few cases of hepatic hemangioma supplied by the portal vein have been reported. In this paper, we report a rare case of hepatic hemangioma supplied by the portal vein as shown on CEUS and CT arterioportography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Ogawa
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoki Matsumoto
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Kaneko
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mariko Kumagawa
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukinobu Watanabe
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Midori Hirayama
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiko Moriyama
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tokio Higaki
- Department of Digestive Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tadatoshi Takayama
- Department of Digestive Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiko Sugitani
- Department of Pathology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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Gyoda Y, Imamura H, Ichida H, Yoshimoto J, Ishizaki Y, Kuwatsuru R, Kawasaki S. Significance of hypovascular lesions on dynamic computed tomography and/or gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019; 34:1242-1248. [PMID: 30345571 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.14510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM The natural course and clinical implications of hypovascular lesions on dynamic computed tomography and/or gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging were investigated. METHODS We followed the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent hepatectomy between April 2009 and August 2012 to determine whether new classical HCCs developed from these unresected borderline lesions or emerged in different areas. RESULTS One hundred and eleven patients with HCC were identified to have undergone examinations using both imaging methods before hepatic resection. A total of 54 hypovascular lesions were detected. Gadolinium ethoxybenzyl-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging detected 51 lesions, while dynamic computed tomography identified 21 lesions. Eleven lesions were resected at the time of the hepatectomy together with the main HCCs. Classical HCCs had developed from 52.5% of the 43 unresected lesions at 3 years after hepatic resection. Subsequently, we conducted a patient-by-patient analysis to compare the development of classical HCC from these hypovascular lesions and the emergence of de novo classical HCC in other areas. The 3-year occurrence rate was 62.2% for the former group and 55.0% for the latter group (P = 0.83). Thus, although 52.2% of these hypovascular lesions had developed into classical HCCs at 3 years after the initial hepatectomy, de novo HCCs also occurred at other sites. Furthermore, new hypovascular lesions emerged after hepatectomy in 18-29% of patients irrespective of the presence or absence of hypovascular lesions at hepatectomy. CONCLUSIONS It remains uncertain whether these hypovascular lesions should be resected together with the main tumors at the time of hepatectomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Gyoda
- Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Imamura
- Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Ichida
- Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jiro Yoshimoto
- Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoichi Ishizaki
- Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryohei Kuwatsuru
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Seiji Kawasaki
- Department of Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Goode K, Weisse C, Berent A, Lamb K. Evaluation of hepatic tumor portal perfusion using mesenteric angiography: A pilot study in 5 dogs. J Vet Intern Med 2019; 33:776-782. [PMID: 30565353 PMCID: PMC6430931 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mesenteric angiography is a sensitive method for visualizing portal perfusion in the dog. OBJECTIVES To evaluate hepatic portal perfusion in dogs with incompletely resectable hepatic tumors using mesenteric angiography. ANIMALS Five client-owned dogs with incompletely resectable hepatic tumors evaluated with mesenteric angiography. METHODS Retrospective case series. Electronic medical records at the Animal Medical Center were analyzed to identify dogs that underwent mesenteric portography to determine blood flow to nonresectable hepatic tumors and subsequently determine ideal routes for transarterial embolization, vascular stent placement, or both. The images obtained from mesenteric angiography were analyzed and compared to those obtained from computed tomography angiography. RESULTS Portography was accomplished using direct mesenteric venography in 3 dogs with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cranial mesenteric arteriography in 1 dog with hepatic adenoma or well-differentiated HCC, and via splenic arteriovenous fistula in 1 dog with diffuse hepatic hemangiosarcoma metastases. Mean pixel densities in areas of hepatic tumor growth identified statistically significant decreases in portal blood flow (P = .02) compared to normal hepatic parenchyma. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Initial findings indicate that the blood supply to large and metastatic hepatic tumors in dogs may correlate with that in humans, such that the majority of the tumor blood supply arises from the hepatic artery and not the portal vein. Differences in blood supply between normal hepatic parenchyma and hepatic tumors might be exploited by developing selective tumor therapies such as arterial embolization or chemoembolization that largely spare normal liver tissue. Further investigation is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey Goode
- Department of Interventional RadiologyThe Animal Medical CenterNew YorkNew York
| | - Chick Weisse
- Department of Interventional RadiologyThe Animal Medical CenterNew YorkNew York
| | - Allyson Berent
- Department of Interventional RadiologyThe Animal Medical CenterNew YorkNew York
| | - Ken Lamb
- Lamb Statistical ConsultingWest St. PaulMinnesota
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Takayasu K, Arii S, Sakamoto M, Matsuyama Y, Kudo M, Kaneko S, Nakashima O, Kadoya M, Izumi N, Takayama T, Ku Y, Kumada T, Kubo S, Kokudo T, Hagiwara Y, Kokudo N. Impact of resection and ablation for single hypovascular hepatocellular carcinoma ≤2 cm analysed with propensity score weighting. Liver Int 2018; 38:484-493. [PMID: 29266722 DOI: 10.1111/liv.13670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Small hypovascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ≤2 cm is biologically less aggressive than hypervascular one, however, the optimal treatment is still undetermined. The efficacy of surgical resection (SR), radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) was evaluated. METHODS The 853 (SR, 176; RFA, 491; PEI, 186) patients were enrolled who met Child-Pugh A/B, single hypovascular HCC ≤2 cm pathologically proven, available tumour differentiation and absence of macrovascular invasion and extrahepatic metastasis. Overall and recurrence-free survivals were compared in original and a propensity score weighted pseudo-population with 732 patients. RESULTS The median follow-up time and tumour size were 2.8 years and 1.47 cm respectively. In original population, multivariate Cox regression showed no significant difference for overall survival among three groups. In pseudo-population, Cox regression also revealed no significant difference for overall survival among them, although SR (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.36-0.86) and RFA (HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.57-1.00) groups had significantly lower recurrence than PEI group. The overall survival rates at 3 and 5 years for the SR, RFA and PEI groups were 94%/70%, 90%/75% and 94%/73% respectively. Corresponding recurrence-free survival rates were 64%/54%, 59%/41% 48%/33% respectively. Subgroup analysis revealed no significant survival benefit of SR compared with non-SR. No treatment-related death occurred. CONCLUSIONS For patients with single hypovascular HCC ≤2 cm, no significant difference for overall survival was first identified among 3 treatment groups. The SR or RFA could be recommended, and PEI would be alternative to RFA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenichi Takayasu
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeki Arii
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Hamamatsu Rosai Hospital, Japan Labor Health and Welfare Organization, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Michiie Sakamoto
- Department of Pathology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yutaka Matsuyama
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Kudo
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Sayama, Japan
| | - Shuichi Kaneko
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa University School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Osamu Nakashima
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Kurume University Hospital, Kurume, Japan
| | - Masumi Kadoya
- Department of Radiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
| | - Namiki Izumi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Musashino, Japan
| | - Tadatoshi Takayama
- Department of Digestive Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yonson Ku
- Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Takashi Kumada
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ogaki Municipal Hospital, Ogaki, Japan
| | - Shoji Kubo
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takashi Kokudo
- Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery Division, Artificial Organ and Transplantation Division, Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Hagiwara
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Norihiro Kokudo
- National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Prognostic Significance of Concurrent Hypovascular and Hypervascular Nodules in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0163119. [PMID: 27649084 PMCID: PMC5029907 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypovascular nodules often occur together with hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it remains controversial whether hypovascular nodules associated with hypervascular HCC have any prognostic value. This study evaluated the prognostic impact of hypovascular nodules co-existing with hypervascular HCC as diagnosed by computed tomography during arterial portography (CTAP) and computed tomography during hepatic arteriography (CTHA), which can sensitively capture the dynamic changes in blood flow through the portal vein and hepatic artery in patients with early stage HCC. METHODS A total of 152 patients with hypervascular HCC (≤ 30 mm, ≤ 3 nodules), who underwent initial local ablation, were analyzed retrospectively. All patients received CTAP and CTHA prior to treatment. Overall survival (OS) was compared among group A (hypervascular HCC only, 107 patients) and group B (hypovascular nodules and hypervascular HCC, 45 patients). RESULTS Among all hypovascular nodules, 81% (46 of 57) developed hypervascularization within the follow-up period. The 1- and 2-year hypervascularization rates were 17% and 51%, respectively. OS was significantly longer for group A than for group B (P < 0.001). A Cox proportional-hazards model identified the presence of hypovascular nodules concurrent with hypervascular HCC as an independent poor prognostic factor. CONCLUSION The prognosis of hypervascular HCC patients with hypovascular nodules detected during CTAP and CTHA is poor. Clinical HCC categories seem to be dissimilar between patients with and without hypovascular nodules.
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9
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Imaging of HCC-Current State of the Art. Diagnostics (Basel) 2015; 5:513-45. [PMID: 26854169 PMCID: PMC4728473 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics5040513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 11/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is crucial for optimizing treatment outcome. Ongoing advances are being made in imaging of HCC regarding detection, grading, staging, and also treatment monitoring. This review gives an overview of the current international guidelines for diagnosing HCC and their discrepancies as well as critically summarizes the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) techniques for imaging in HCC. The diagnostic performance of MRI with nonspecific and hepatobililiary contrast agents and the role of functional imaging with diffusion-weighted imaging will be discussed. On the other hand, CT as a fast, cheap and easily accessible imaging modality plays a major role in the clinical routine work-up of HCC. Technical advances in CT, such as dual energy CT and volume perfusion CT, are currently being explored for improving detection, characterization and staging of HCC with promising results. Cone beam CT can provide a three-dimensional analysis of the liver with tumor and vessel characterization comparable to cross-sectional imaging so that this technique is gaining an increasing role in the peri-procedural imaging of HCC treated with interventional techniques.
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Characterization of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lesions using a novel CT-based volume perfusion (VPCT) technique. Eur J Radiol 2015; 84:1029-35. [PMID: 25816994 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2015.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2014] [Revised: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 02/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To characterize hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in terms of perfusion parameters using volume perfusion CT (VPCT) and two different calculation methods, compare their results, look for interobserver agreement of measurements and correlation between tumor arterialization and lesion size. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study was part of a prospective monitoring study in patients with HCC undergoing TACE, which was approved by the local Institutional Review Board. 79 HCC-patients (mean age, 64.7) with liver cirrhosis were enrolled. VPCT was performed for 40s covering the involved liver (80 kV, 100/120 mAs) using 64 mm × 0.6 mm collimation, 26 consecutive volume measurements, 50 mL iodinated contrast IV and 5 mL/s flow rate. Mean/maximum blood flow (BF; ml/100mL/min), blood volume (BV) and k-trans were determined both with the maximum slope+Patlak vs. deconvolution method. Additionally, the portal venous liver perfusion (PVP), the arterial liver perfusion (ALP) and the hepatic perfusion index (HPI) were determined for each tumor including size measurements. Interobserver agreement for all perfusion parameters was calculated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). RESULTS The max. slope+Patlak method yielded: BFmean/max=37.8/57 mL/100g-tissue/', BVmean/max=9.8/11.1 mL/100g-tissue, k-trans-mean/max=34.4/44.5 mL/100g-tissue/'. For the deconvolution method BFmean/max, BVmean/max and, k-trans-mean/max were 68.3/106.1 mL/100g-tissue/', 12.6/15.5 mL/100g-tissue and 24/33.8 mL/100g-tissue/'. Mean ALP, PVP, HPI and size were 53.7 mL/100g-tissue/', 2.4 mL/100g-tissue/', 96.4 and 3.5 cm, respectively. Interobserver agreement measured with intraclass coefficient correlation (ICC) was very good for all perfusion parameters (≥ 0.99). Best correlation between calculation methods was achieved for measurements of BF, while BV and k-trans values were less correlated. There was no relationship between HPI and lesion size. CONCLUSION VPCT can measure tumor volume perfusion non-invasively and enables quantification of the degree of HCC arterialization. Results are dependent on the technique used with best inter-method correlation for BF. Tumor HPI did not proved size-dependent.
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11
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Jha RC, Zanello PA, Nguyen XM, Pehlivanova M, Johnson LB, Fishbein T, Shetty K. Small hepatocellular carcinoma: MRI findings for predicting tumor growth rates. Acad Radiol 2014; 21:1455-64. [PMID: 25300723 DOI: 10.1016/j.acra.2014.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2014] [Revised: 06/03/2014] [Accepted: 06/24/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES Current clinical practice favors imaging rather than biopsy to diagnose hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There is a need to better understand tumor biology and aggressiveness of HCC. Our goal is to investigate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of HCC that are associated with faster growth rates (GRs). MATERIALS AND METHODS After approval from institutional review board, a retrospective evaluation was performed of pre-liver transplant patients. Fifty-two patients who developed a >2 cm HCC on serial imaging were included in the study group, with a total of 60 HCCs seen. Precursor foci were identified on serial MRIs before the specific diagnostic features of >2 cm HCC could be made, and GRs and MRI features, including signal on T1- and T2-weighted images (WI), the presence of intralesional steatosis on chemical shift imaging, and enhancement pattern were analyzed. GRs were correlated with imaging features. RESULTS The average GR of precursor lesions to >2 cm HCC was determined to be 0.23 cm/mo (standard deviation [SD], 0.32), with a doubling time of 5.26 months (SD, 5.44). The presence of increased signal intensity (SI) on T2-WI was associated with significantly higher growth (P = .0002), whereas increased intensity on T1-WI at the initial study was associated with a significantly lower GR (P = .0162). Furthermore, lesions with hypervascular enhancement with washout pattern had significantly higher GR (P = .0164). There is no evidence of differences in GRs seen in lesions with steatosis. CONCLUSIONS Small precursor lesions with increased SI on T2-WI and a washout pattern of enhancement are associated with faster GRs, which may suggest more aggressive tumor biology. These features may be helpful in patient management and surveillance for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reena C Jha
- Department of Radiology, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, 3800 Reservoir Rd, NW, Washington, DC 20007.
| | | | - Xai Mai Nguyen
- Department of Radiology, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, 3800 Reservoir Rd, NW, Washington, DC 20007
| | - Marieta Pehlivanova
- MedStar Research Institute, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Washington DC
| | - Lynt B Johnson
- Department of Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Thomas Fishbein
- Department of Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC
| | - Kirti Shetty
- Department of Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC
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12
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Motosugi U, Bannas P, Sano K, Reeder SB. Hepatobiliary MR contrast agents in hypovascular hepatocellular carcinoma. J Magn Reson Imaging 2014; 41:251-65. [PMID: 25104398 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.24712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2014] [Accepted: 06/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops via multistep hepatocarcinogenesis, during which hypovascular/early HCC precedes the typical hypervascular HCC. The hypovascular HCC lacks the typical hallmark imaging features of HCC, such as late arterial phase enhancement and portal venous washout, limiting early detection using conventional extracellular contrast agents for dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) imaging. In recent years, gadolinium-based contrast agents with hepatobiliary uptake have garnered interest from radiologists and hepatologists due to their potential for improved detection of HCC during hepatobiliary phase MRI. Lesions with reduced or absent hepatocyte function appear hypointense in the hepatobiliary phase of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI. This behavior can be exploited for earlier detection of hypovascular HCC. This review describes the general characteristics and advantages of gadoxetic acid for the diagnosis of HCC with a particular focus on hypovascular/early HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Utaroh Motosugi
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Department of Radiology, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
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Non-hypervascular hypointense nodules on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI as a predictor of outcomes for early-stage HCC. Hepatol Int 2014; 9:84-92. [PMID: 25788383 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-014-9553-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 06/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE In patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) often identifies non-hypervascular hypointense hepatic nodules during the hepatobiliary phase, but their prognostic significance is unclear. We conducted a prospective observational study to investigate the impact of non-hypervascular hypointense hepatic nodules detected by Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI on the outcome of patients with early-stage HCC. METHODS Post-treatment recurrence and survival rates were analyzed in 138 patients with non-recurrent, early-stage HCC [Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage 0 or A] and Child-Pugh A liver function according to the presence of non-hypervascular hypointense nodules on pretreatment Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI. RESULTS Non-hypervascular hypointense hepatic nodules were detected in 51 (37.0%) patients with early-stage HCC on pretreatment Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI. Recurrence rates were significantly higher in patients with non-hypervascular hypointense nodules (p < 0.0001). Based on a multivariate analysis, the presence of non-hypervascular hypointense hepatic nodules on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI was independently associated with an increased recurrence rate, independent of tumor progression or treatment (p = 0.0005). The survival rate was significantly lower in patients with non-hypervascular hypointense nodules on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI (p = 0.0108). CONCLUSIONS In patients with early-stage typical HCC (BCLC 0 or A), the presence of concurrent non-hypervascular hypointense hepatic nodules in the hepatobiliary phase of pretreatment Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI is an indicator of higher likelihood of recurrence after treatment and may be a marker for unfavorable outcome.
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Images of Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasonography in multistep hepatocarcinogenesis: comparison with Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI. J Gastroenterol 2014; 49:1081-93. [PMID: 23903870 DOI: 10.1007/s00535-013-0859-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2013] [Accepted: 07/04/2013] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about the difference in enhancement patterns of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) during multistep hepatocarcinogenesis between the post-vascular phase of Sonazoid-enhanced ultrasonography (SEUS) and hepatobiliary phase of gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MRI, as well as uptakes of Sonazoid and Gd-EOB-DTPA by HCC. METHODS Seventy patients with 73 histologically proven HCCs (33 hypovascular well-differentiated HCCs and 40 progressed HCCs) and 9 dysplastic nodules (DNs) were enrolled. Enhancement patterns of the lesions on the post-vascular phase of SEUS and hepatobiliary phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI were evaluated. Uptakes of Sonazoid and Gd-EOB-DTPA were assessed by Sonazoid enhancement index and EOB enhancement ratio in relation to immunohistochemistry of CD68 and organic anion transporting polypeptide 8 (OATP8), respectively. RESULTS On the post-vascular phase of SEUS, none of the 9 DNs and 3 of 33 hypovascular well-differentiated HCCs (9 %) were hypoechoic, whereas 3 of 9 DNs (33 %) and 31 of 33 hypovascular well-differentiated HCCs (94 %) showed hypointensity on the hepatobiliary phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI. Of 31 progressed HCCs, 95 and 93 % were hypoechoic and hypointense on the post-vascular phase of SEUS and hepatobiliary phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI, respectively. Sonazoid enhancement indexes decreased in progressed HCCs, correlating with lower Kupffer cell numbers (P < 0.001). EOB enhancement ratios decreased in hypovascular well-differentiated and progressed HCCs, as OATP8 expression declined (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS In stepwise hepatocarcinogenesis, uptake of Sonazoid starts decreasing later than that of Gd-EOB-DTPA. Although signal reductions on the post-vascular phase of SEUS or hepatobiliary phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI suggest HCC, hypoechoic appearance on the post-vascular phase of SEUS might be HCC-specific, particularly progressed HCC.
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Bartolozzi C, Battaglia V, Bargellini I, Bozzi E, Campani D, Pollina LE, Filipponi F. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of 102 nodules in cirrhosis: correlation with histological findings on explanted livers. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 38:290-6. [PMID: 23053453 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-012-9952-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To analyze Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) findings of nodules (low-grade dysplastic nodules-LGDNs; high-grade dysplastic nodules-HGDN, and hepatocellular carcinoma-HCC), histologically identified on cirrhotic, explanted livers. METHODS IRB approval was obtained for this study. Thirty-four patients underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR examinations (1.5T system), that included 20-min delayed hepatobiliary (HB) phase imaging, before undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT; mean time MR-OLT: 2.7 months). A total of 102 hepatic nodules were identified and analyzed at histopathological examination, and classified as LGDN, HGDN, and HCC. Two radiologists by consensus performed a quantitative (enhancement ratios, ERs) and a qualitative analyses of signal intensities of identified nodules on vascular dynamic phases (30-35 s after injection-arterial phase; 180-190 s after injection late phase) and on HB phases. Correlation between nodules MR patterns and histological classification was analyzed by means of dedicated statistical software. RESULTS No differences were appreciable among ERs of HGDN and HCCs on HB phase (P > 0.001). Lesions' enhancement on vascular dynamic and on HB phases significantly correlated to histological classification of nodules (P < 0.0001). Nodular hyperintensity on arterial phase and hypointensity on late phase were highly predictive for HCC (PPV 100%), with a moderate sensitivity (72.5%). Nodular hypointensity on HB phase was detected on 39/40 HCCs (sensitivity 97.5%) and in 21/30 HGDNs, whereas no LGDN showed it. CONCLUSIONS Hyperenhancement on arterial phase and hypointensity on late phase are the most specific clues for the diagnosis of HCC. Hypointensity on HB phase shows a PPV of 100% in suggesting nodular premalignancy/malignancy, independently from nodular dynamic vascular enhancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Bartolozzi
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, 56100, Pisa, Italy.
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Toyoda H, Kumada T, Tada T, Niinomi T, Ito T, Sone Y, Kaneoka Y, Maeda A. Non-hypervascular hypointense nodules detected by Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI are a risk factor for recurrence of HCC after hepatectomy. J Hepatol 2013; 58:1174-80. [PMID: 23376360 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2013.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2012] [Revised: 01/04/2013] [Accepted: 01/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) often depicts non-hypervascular hypointense hepatic nodules during the hepatobiliary phase in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is unclear whether the presence of these nodules is associated with HCC recurrence after hepatectomy. We conducted a prospective observational study to investigate the impact of the presence of non-hypervascular hypointense hepatic nodules on the hepatobiliary phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI on the recurrence of HCC after hepatectomy. METHODS A total of 77 patients who underwent hepatectomy for primary, non-recurrent, hypervascular HCC were prospectively followed up after hepatectomy. Post-operative recurrence rates were compared according to the presence of non-hypervascular hypointense nodules on preoperative Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI. RESULTS Recurrence rates after hepatectomy were higher in patients with non-hypervascular hypointense nodules (risk ratio 1.9396 [1.3615-2.7222]) and the presence of non-hypervascular hypointense nodules was an independent factor associated with postoperative recurrence (risk ratio 2.1767 [1.5089-3.1105]) along with HCC differentiation and portal vein invasion. While no differences were found in the rate of intrahepatic metastasis recurrence based on the preoperative presence of non-hypervascular hypointense hepatic nodules, the rate of multicentric recurrence was significantly higher in patients with preoperative non-hypervascular hypointense hepatic nodules. CONCLUSIONS Patients with preoperative non-hypervascular hypointense hepatic nodules detected during the hepatobiliary phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI are at higher risk of HCC recurrence after hepatectomy, mainly due to multicentric recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidenori Toyoda
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ogaki Municipal Hospital, Ogaki, Japan.
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Takayasu K, Arii S, Sakamoto M, Matsuyama Y, Kudo M, Ichida T, Nakashima O, Matsui O, Izumi N, Ku Y, Kokudo N, Makuuchi M. Clinical implication of hypovascular hepatocellular carcinoma studied in 4,474 patients with solitary tumour equal or less than 3 cm. Liver Int 2013; 33:762-70. [PMID: 23445409 DOI: 10.1111/liv.12130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2012] [Accepted: 01/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS To clarify the biological behaviour of small hypovascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) because of insufficient evidence even though frequently encountered. METHODS The study covered naïve 4,474 patients who met solitary HCC ≤ 3 cm (mean, 2.1 cm), histopathologically proven and Child Pugh A or B. Macroscopic vascular invasion and distant metastasis were excluded. The hypovascularity of tumour was defined as hypo- or iso-enhancement in arterial phase of multiple dynamic imaging techniques. RESULTS Of them, 802 (18%) were hypovascular. The ratio of hypovascular HCC decreased as tumour size increased (P < 0.001) and most of them developed to hypervascular type when they grew over 1.5 cm. Hypovascular group showed a significantly higher ratio of well differentiated grade (P < 0.001) and marginally less incidence of microvascular invasion and metastases compared with hypervascular group. The histologic dedifferentiation (less differentiation) developed step-by-step as tumour size increased in hyper- and even hypovascular group. The des-γ-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) value ≥ 300 mAU/ml was closely correlated with increase of tumour size in both groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed five variables were independent predictors for hypovascular HCC; tumour size ≤ 1.5 cm, alpha-fetoprotein < 200 ng/ml, DCP < 40 mAU/ml, well differentiated grade, and positivity for hepatitis C virus antibody. CONCLUSIONS Hypovascular HCC was biologically less aggressive and developed with stepwise dedifferentiation and transformation to hypervascular appearance along with tumour growth. These results will help in leading correct diagnosis of small hypovascular tumour and assessing optimal treatment for hypovascular HCC ≤ 3 cm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenichi Takayasu
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
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Midorikawa Y, Takayama T, Shimada K, Nakayama H, Higaki T, Moriguchi M, Nara S, Tsuji S, Tanaka M. Marginal survival benefit in the treatment of early hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatol 2013; 58:306-11. [PMID: 23063418 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2012.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2012] [Revised: 08/23/2012] [Accepted: 09/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Early treatment has been recommended for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) due to its high cure rate. However, the reported survival benefits of treating early HCC may be affected by lead time. METHODS Early HCC was defined as a well-differentiated cancer containing Glisson's triad (carcinoma in situ). We applied the concept of lead time to chronic liver disease, which is originally the length of time between screen-detected and symptom-detected disease. To evaluate prolongation of survival with treatment of early HCC, survivals of patients with early and overt HCCs smaller than 2.0 cm treated with liver resection were compared. To calculate lead time and survival benefit of liver resection, survivals of untreated early and overt HCC patients were compared. RESULTS After liver resection, median overall survival of 46 patients with early HCC (8.8 years; 95% CI, 7.2-11.2) was significantly longer than that of the 202 with overt HCC (6.8 years; 95% CI, 6.2-8.3, p = 0.0257). The prolongation in survival time with liver resection for early HCC was 34.7 (95% CI, 22.1-46.5) months. On the other hand, comparing liver resection and natural history, the survival benefits of surgery for 12 patients with early and 16 with overt HCC were 74.7 (95% CI, 51.9-97.4) and 73.4 (95% CI, 57.9-88.9) months, respectively. Consequently, the lead time and survival benefit with resection for early HCC were estimated as 33.4 (95% CI, 18.9-47.8) and 1.3 (95% CI, -22.1-24.7) months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Survival benefit of resection for early HCC is marginal because of a long lead time, and early HCC is therefore not a target lesion for surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaka Midorikawa
- Department of Digestive Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30-1 Oyaguchikami-machi, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
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MOTOSUGI U, ICHIKAWA T, ARAKI T. Rules, Roles, and Room for Discussion in Gadoxetic Acid-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Liver Imaging: Current Knowledge and Future Challenges. Magn Reson Med Sci 2013; 12:161-75. [DOI: 10.2463/mrms.2012-0085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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Loria F, Loria G, Basile S, Crea G, Randazzo D, Frosina L. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound of hepatocellular carcinoma: correlation between enhancement pattern and cellular differentiation on histopathlogy. Updates Surg 2012; 64:247-55. [DOI: 10.1007/s13304-012-0179-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2012] [Accepted: 09/06/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Inoue T, Kudo M, Komuta M, Hayaishi S, Ueda T, Takita M, Kitai S, Hatanaka K, Yada N, Hagiwara S, Chung H, Sakurai T, Ueshima K, Sakamoto M, Maenishi O, Hyodo T, Okada M, Kumano S, Murakami T. Assessment of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI for HCC and dysplastic nodules and comparison of detection sensitivity versus MDCT. J Gastroenterol 2012; 47:1036-47. [PMID: 22526270 DOI: 10.1007/s00535-012-0571-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2011] [Accepted: 02/13/2012] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We aimed to evaluate gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the detection of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and dysplastic nodules (DNs) compared with dynamic multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT), and to discriminate between HCCs and DNs. METHODS Eighty-six nodules diagnosed as HCC or DNs were retrospectively investigated. Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI and dynamic MDCT were compared with respect to their diagnostic ability for hypervascular HCCs and detection sensitivity for hypovascular tumors. The ability of hepatobiliary images of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI to discriminate between these nodules was assessed. We also calculated the EOB enhancement ratio of the tumors. RESULTS For hypervascular HCCs, the diagnostic ability of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI was significantly higher than that of MDCT for tumors less than 2 cm (p = 0.048). There was no difference in the detection of hypervascular HCCs between hepatobiliary phase images of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI (43/45: 96%) and dynamic MDCT (40/45: 89%), whereas the detection sensitivity of hypovascular tumors by Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI was significantly higher than that by dynamic MDCT (39/41: 95% vs. 25/41: 61%, p = 0.001). EOB enhancement ratios were decreased in parallel with the degree of differentiation in DNs and HCCs, although there was no difference between DNs and hypovascular well-differentiated HCCs. CONCLUSION The diagnostic ability of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI for hypervascular HCCs less than 2 cm was significantly higher than that of MDCT. For hypovascular tumors, the detection sensitivity of hepatobiliary phase images of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI was significantly higher than that of dynamic Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI and dynamic MDCT. It was difficult to distinguish between DNs and hypovascular well-differentiated HCCs based on the EOB enhancement ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuo Inoue
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-Higashi, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka 589-8511, Japan
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Efficacy of fusion imaging combining sonography and hepatobiliary phase MRI with Gd-EOB-DTPA to detect small hepatocellular carcinoma. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2012; 198:106-14. [PMID: 22194485 DOI: 10.2214/ajr.10.6039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We evaluated the efficacy of fusion imaging that fuses conventional sonography images with hepatobiliary phase contrast-enhanced MR images obtained with gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) as the reference image for the detection of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). SUBJECTS AND METHODS Eighty-seven HCCs with a maximum diameter of between 1 and 3 cm at the time of diagnosis were enrolled in this prospective study. We compared the detection rates of HCCs using three sonography modalities: conventional sonography, late phase of contrast-enhanced sonography with Sonazoid, and fusion imaging combining conventional sonography and the hepatobiliary phase of contrast-enhanced MRI with Gd-EOB-DTPA as the reference image. The comparisons were made using the McNemar test. RESULTS The detection rate of HCCs using fusion imaging (98%, 85/87) was significantly higher than the detection rates using conventional sonography (76%, 66/87) and contrast-enhanced sonography (83%, 72/87) (p<0.01, for both). For small HCCs (maximum diameter, 1-2 cm), the detection rate using fusion imaging (97%, 59/61) was also significantly higher than those using conventional sonography (66%, 40/61) and contrast-enhanced sonography (80%, 49/61) (p<0.01, for both). The detection rate for atypical HCCs was also significantly higher using fusion imaging (95%, 18/19) than using conventional sonography (53%, 10/19) and contrast-enhanced sonography (26%, 5/19) (p<0.01, for both). CONCLUSION Fusion imaging combining conventional sonography and the hepatobiliary phase of contrast-enhanced MRI with Gd-EOB-DTPA is more sensitive than conventional sonography or contrast-enhanced sonography for detecting HCCs, especially small or atypical HCCs.
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Sano K, Ichikawa T, Motosugi U, Sou H, Muhi AM, Matsuda M, Nakano M, Sakamoto M, Nakazawa T, Asakawa M, Fujii H, Kitamura T, Enomoto N, Araki T. Imaging study of early hepatocellular carcinoma: usefulness of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging. Radiology 2011; 261:834-44. [PMID: 21998047 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.11101840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 288] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To describe imaging findings of early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, dynamic contrast material-enhanced computed tomography (CT), CT during arterial portography (CTAP), and CT during hepatic arteriography (CTHA) and to compare the diagnostic performance of each modality for small (≤ 2 cm) HCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS The institute ethics committee deemed study approval unnecessary. One hundred eight resected small lesions in 64 patients were diagnosed as a dysplastic nodule (DN) (n = 12), progressed HCC (n = 66), or early HCC (n = 30). All but two patients underwent all imaging examinations. The imaging characteristics of the lesions with each modality were determined. To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the modalities, two radiologists graded the presence of HCC with use of a five-point confidence scale. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (A(z)), sensitivity, and specificity of each modality were compared. RESULTS The imaging features that are statistically significant for differentiating an early HCC from a DN include fat-containing lesions at dual-echo T1-weighted MR imaging (seen in 16 of the 30 early HCCs and none of the DNs), low attenuation at unenhanced CT (seen in 13 of the 30 early HCCs and none of the DNs), low attenuation at CTAP (seen in 11 of the 30 early HCCs and none of the DNs), and low signal intensity at hepatocyte phase gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging (seen in 29 of the 30 early HCCs and none of the DNs). The diagnostic performance of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging (A(z), 0.98 and 0.99) was significantly greater than that of contrast-enhanced CT (A(z), 0.87) and CTHA-CTAP (A(z), 0.85 and 0.86) owing to its significantly higher sensitivity (P < .001). CONCLUSION Gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging is the most useful imaging technique for evaluating small HCC, including early HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsuhiro Sano
- Department of Radiology, University of Yamanashi, 1110 Shimokato, Chuo-shi, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan
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Evolution of hypointense hepatocellular nodules observed only in the hepatobiliary phase of gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2011; 197:58-63. [PMID: 21701011 DOI: 10.2214/ajr.10.5390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We sought to determine whether hypointense hepatocellular nodules observed in the hepatobiliary phase of MRI enhanced with gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (gadoxetate disodium) progress to hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS Gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI was repeated for 30 patients with 49 nodules determined to be hypointense in the hepatobiliary phase but nonenhancing in the arterial phase of dynamic MRI. The correlation between characteristics of hypointense nodules with slightly or markedly low signal intensity relative to surrounding liver parenchyma and their progression to hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma was analyzed in cirrhotic livers. All patients underwent angiography-assisted CT before MRI. The rate of progression to classic hepatocellular carcinoma was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS The overall 6- and 12-month cumulative incidences of vascularization were 27.6% and 43.5%. The 6- and 12-month cumulative incidences of vascularized nodules with a maximum diameter 15 mm or greater were 43.3% and 77.3% and a maximum diameter less than 15 mm were 16.9% and 16.9%. The difference between these incidences was significant (p = 0.0147). CONCLUSION Hypointense nodules with a maximum diameter of at least 15 mm often become hypervascular. Therefore, patients with hypointense nodules characterized by a maximum diameter of 15 mm or greater should be observed carefully because of the high incidence of vascularization.
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Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound With Perflubutane Microbubble Agent: Evaluation of Differentiation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2011; 196:W123-31. [DOI: 10.2214/ajr.10.4242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Mandai M, Koda M, Matono T, Nagahara T, Sugihara T, Ueki M, Ohyama K, Murawaki Y. Assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma by contrast-enhanced ultrasound with perfluorobutane microbubbles: comparison with dynamic CT. Br J Radiol 2010; 84:499-507. [PMID: 20959373 DOI: 10.1259/bjr/38682601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate tumour vascularity and Kupffer cell imaging in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) with Sonazoid (perfluorobutane) and to compare performance with dynamic CT. METHODS We studied 118 nodules in 88 patients with HCC. HCC was diagnosed as a hyperenhancement lesion in the arterial phase with washout in the portal phase on dynamic CT or by percutaneous biopsy. We observed tumour vascularity at the early vascular phase (10-30 s after contrast injection) and Kupffer imaging at the post-vascular phase (after 10 min). RESULTS Detection of vascularity at the early vascular phase was 88% in nodules that were found to be hypervascular on dynamic CT and 28% in hypo-/isovascular nodules; the detection of local recurrence nodules was 92%. The detection of vascularity was significantly lower in nodules >9 cm deep than in those ≤9 cm deep, but was not affected by tumour size. The detection of tumours at the post-vascular phase on CEUS was 83% in nodules with low density in the portal phase on dynamic CT and 82% in nodules with isodensity. The rate did not depend on the severity of underlying liver disease; rates decreased in nodules deeper than 9 cm, those smaller than 2 cm in diameter and in iso-enhancing nodules at the early vascular phase of CEUS. CONCLUSION CEUS with Sonazoid is a useful tool for assessing the vascularity of HCC and is equal to that of dynamic CT; however, the detectability of HCC vascularity is affected by location.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Mandai
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori, Japan
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Kawada N, Ohkawa K, Tanaka S, Matsunaga T, Uehara H, Ioka T, Takano Y, Takakura R, Imanaka K, Tamai C, Kawaguchi T, Tomita Y, Nakanishi K, Katayama K. Improved diagnosis of well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma with gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. Hepatol Res 2010; 40:930-6. [PMID: 20887598 DOI: 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2010.00697.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
AIM Two new imaging modalities have been developed recently that are directed at the focal liver lesions: gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS). We investigated the usefulness of these modalities for the diagnosis of small (<2 cm), well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS A total of 15 nodules from 13 patients, which were histologically diagnosed as well-differentiated HCC, were subjected to this study. Lesions that showed hypervascularity in the arterial phase and washout in the portal or late non-hemodynamic phase were regarded as HCC in the dynamic studies of all imaging modalities. RESULTS By multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), six of 15 (40%) nodules were diagnosed as HCC. Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI diagnosed HCC in nine of the 15 (60%) nodules. Of the nine nodules that were not diagnosed by MDCT, four could be diagnosed by Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI. In Sonazoid CEUS, 10 of 15 nodules (67%) were diagnosed as HCC. Four of nine nodules that could not be diagnosed as HCC by MDCT, were diagnosed by Sonazoid CEUS. A total of 11 of the 15 (73%) nodules were diagnosed as HCC by Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI and Sonazoid CEUS in addition to MDCT. CONCLUSION Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI and Sonazoid CEUS had greater diagnostic value for small, well-differentiated HCC than did conventional MDCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natsuko Kawada
- Departments of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Oncology, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, Osaka, Japan
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Locoregional treatments of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have evolved over the past 20 years. Interventional radiologists have developed an important role in the palliative and curative treatment of the disease. This review summarizes commonly used interventional radiological treatment protocols to assist practitioners in understanding the techniques used to treat HCC. METHODS Various searches were performed to evaluate recent publications regarding systemic treatments of HCC as well as transplant/surgery, chemoembolization, yttrium-90 radioembolization, percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cryoablation, and percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI). RESULTS No standard for chemoembolization was found. Two studies evaluating survival with chemoembolization vs medical therapy found benefits with the former. PEI offers favorable outcomes in small HCC but has increased recurrence and decreased long-term survival compared with RFA. Local recurrence, response rates, and mortality from RFA rival surgical resection in HCC less than 3 cm. Cryoablation appears to be effective, and yttrium-90 radioembolization is an additional tool. CONCLUSIONS Chemoembolization improves survival and offers improved tumor response compared to systemic treatment. More studies are needed to standardize chemoembolization preparations and techniques. RFA provides better results than PEI but has not been compared with cryoablation. Radioembolization appears to be as effective as chemoembolization, but the preprocedure evaluation and costs may limit its use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cliff R Davis
- Tampa General Hospital, Radiology Association of Tampa/Department of Interventional Radiology, Tampa, FL 33606, USA.
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Kogita S, Imai Y, Okada M, Kim T, Onishi H, Takamura M, Fukuda K, Igura T, Sawai Y, Morimoto O, Hori M, Nagano H, Wakasa K, Hayashi N, Murakami T. Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance images of hepatocellular carcinoma: correlation with histological grading and portal blood flow. Eur Radiol 2010; 20:2405-13. [PMID: 20490505 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-010-1812-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2010] [Revised: 03/13/2010] [Accepted: 04/12/2010] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To retrospectively investigate enhancement patterns of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and dysplastic nodule (DN) in the hepatobiliary phase of gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MRI in relation to histological grading and portal blood flow. METHODS Sixty-nine consecutive patients with 83 histologically proven HCCs and DNs were studied. To assess Gd-EOB-DTPA uptake, we calculated the EOB enhancement ratio, which is the ratio of the relative intensity of tumorous lesion to surrounding nontumorous area on hepatobiliary phase images (post-contrast EOB ratio) to that on unenhanced images (pre-contrast EOB ratio). Portal blood flow was evaluated by CT during arterial portography. RESULTS Post-contrast EOB ratios significantly decreased as the degree of differentiation declined in DNs (1.00 ± 0.14) and well, moderately and poorly differentiated HCCs (0.79 ± 0.19, 0.60 ± 0.27, 0.49 ± 0.10 respectively). Gd-EOB-DTPA uptake, assessed by EOB enhancement ratios, deceased slightly in DNs and still more in HCCs, while there was no statistical difference in the decrease between different histological grades of HCC. Reductions in portal blood flow were observed less frequently than decreases in Gd-EOB-DTPA uptake in DNs and well-differentiated HCCs. CONCLUSIONS Reduced Gd-EOB-DTPA uptake might be an early event of hepatocarcinogenesis, preceding portal blood flow reduction. The hepatobiliary phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI may help estimate histological grading, although difficulties exist in differentiating HCCs from DNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachiyo Kogita
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ikeda Municipal Hospital, 3-1-18, Johnan, Ikeda, Osaka, 563-8510, Japan
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Furuta T, Maeda E, Akai H, Hanaoka S, Yoshioka N, Akahane M, Watadani T, Ohtomo K. Hepatic Segments and Vasculature: Projecting CT Anatomy onto Angiograms. Radiographics 2009; 29:e37. [DOI: 10.1148/rg.e37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Kitao A, Zen Y, Matsui O, Gabata T, Nakanuma Y. Hepatocarcinogenesis: multistep changes of drainage vessels at CT during arterial portography and hepatic arteriography--radiologic-pathologic correlation. Radiology 2009; 252:605-14. [PMID: 19703890 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2522081414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To clarify the changes that occur in drainage vessels of dysplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) during hepatocarcinogenesis by using computed tomography (CT) during arterial portography (CTAP) and CT during hepatic arteriography (CTHA), with histologic findings as the reference standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS Institutional ethics committee approval and informed consent were obtained. According to the findings at CTAP and CTHA, 46 surgically resected hepatocellular nodules were classified into three types: type A (n = 18) (equivalent or decreased portal perfusion compared with background liver at CTAP, decreased arterial perfusion, and no corona enhancement [perinodular contrast material drainage] at CTHA), type B (n = 13) (no portal perfusion, increased arterial perfusion, and thin (< or = 2-mm) corona enhancement), or type C (n = 15) (no portal perfusion, increased arterial perfusion, and thick (> 2-mm) corona enhancement). We compared the histopathologic features and microangioarchitecture between the types. RESULTS Type A nodules histologically consisted of dysplastic nodules and well-differentiated HCC; type B and C nodules were moderately differentiated HCC. Replacing growth was commonly observed in type A nodules, whereas compressing growth was more frequently seen in types B and C. Sixty percent of type C nodules had a fibrous capsule. There were significantly fewer intranodular hepatic veins in types B and C. Serial pathologic slices demonstrated continuity from intranodular capillarized sinusoids to hepatic veins in type A nodules and to surrounding hepatic sinusoids in type B nodules. In type C nodules, intranodular capillarized sinusoids were connected to extranodular portal veins either directly or through portal venules within the fibrous capsule. CONCLUSION Drainage vessels of HCC change from hepatic veins to hepatic sinusoids and then to portal veins during multistep hepatocarcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azusa Kitao
- Department of Radiology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan.
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Kudo M. Multistep human hepatocarcinogenesis: correlation of imaging with pathology. J Gastroenterol 2009; 44 Suppl 19:112-8. [PMID: 19148804 DOI: 10.1007/s00535-008-2274-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2008] [Accepted: 08/02/2008] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. The majority of HCCs develop in cirrhotic livers, and the early detection and characterization of this entity is very important. Pathologically, human HCC develops in a multistep fashion in the following sequence: from low-grade dysplastic nodule (LGDN), to high-grade dysplastic nodule (HGDN), early HCC, well-differentiated HCC, nodule-in-nodule HCC, and, finally, to moderately differentiated HCC. Differentiation between early HCC and DN is the most important issue in the clinical setting. CT during hepatic angiography (CTHA) and CT during arterial portography (CTAP) are the most sensitive tools in the differentiation of premalignant/borderline lesions (LGDN and HGDN) and early HCC. Recent progress in imaging modality, especially Sonazoidenhanced US and Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI, is starting to play a very important role in the imaging of multistep hepatocarcinogenesis, resulting in changing the therapeutic strategy of these nodular lesions associated with liver cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masatoshi Kudo
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-Higashi, Osaka-Sayama, 589-8511, Japan
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Aishima S, Iguchi T, Nishihara Y, Fujita N, Taguchi K, Taketomi A, Maehara Y, Tsuneyoshi M. Decreased intratumoral arteries reflect portal tract destruction and aggressive characteristics in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Histopathology 2009; 54:452-61. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2009.03240.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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Lee J, Lee WJ, Lim HK, Lim JH, Choi N, Park MH, Kim SW, Park CK. Early hepatocellular carcinoma: three-phase helical CT features of 16 patients. Korean J Radiol 2008; 9:325-32. [PMID: 18682670 PMCID: PMC2627272 DOI: 10.3348/kjr.2008.9.4.325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2007] [Accepted: 12/11/2007] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the three-phase helical CT features of early hepatocellular carcinomas, based on the new Japanese classification. MATERIALS AND METHODS Over the course of an eight-year period, we collected 16 pathologically proven early hepatocellular carcinomas from 16 patients having undergone a three-phase helical CT prior to surgery. The three-phase CT images were acquired at 20-35 sec (arterial phase), 70 sec (portal phase), and 180 sec (equilibrium phase) from the beginning of intravenous injection of contrast material. All the CT images were retrospectively analyzed by two radiologists in consensus, based on their description of morphologic (size, margin, fibrous capsule and mosaic pattern) and enhancement patterns of tumors. RESULTS Only seven (44%) of the 16 early hepatocellular carcinomas having undergone a CT were described (mean diameter, 1.2 cm; range, 0.4-2.5 cm). All the tumors had an ill-defined margin with no fibrous capsule. The mosaic pattern was found in only one tumor. Only three (43%) of the seven tumors detected on CT were hyperattenuating during the arterial phase. The four remaining tumors (25%) were hypoattenuating throughout the three phases. CONCLUSION Despite the higher resolution provided by the three phase scans, the contrast-enhanced CT provides only limited detection of the variable morphologic and enhancement features of early hepatocellular carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jongmee Lee
- Department of Radiology and Center of Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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Fukunaga T, Kudo M, Tochio H, Okabe Y, Orino A. Natural course of small nodular lesions with intranodular preserved portal supply in cirrhotic liver. Oncology 2007; 72 Suppl 1:24-9. [PMID: 18087179 DOI: 10.1159/000111704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Due to recent advances in imaging technology, small nodules or lesions in cirrhotic liver are now seen easily. Intranodular blood supply is useful in characterizing these nodules. However, nodules with preserved portal blood supply may be malignant or benign, and it is unknown how often these nodules develop into overt hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study was performed to clarify the rate of malignant transformation in such lesions with preserved portal perfusion in cirrhotic liver. METHODS From 1995 to 1997, in 98 patients, we performed CT during arterial portography and ultrasound angiography with intra-arterial CO2 injection for 113 nodules <3 cm in diameter to determine the intranodular blood supply. Of these, 48 nodules in 36 patients were diagnosed as 'benign nature nodules' on the basis of the blood supply of the nodules, which included arterial hypovascularity with preserved portal supply. Percutaneous biopsy of the nodule was undertaken for all nodules for histopathologic diagnosis. Thirty-two nodules in 22 patients that were not diagnosed as early HCC were followed-up clinically without any treatment to clarify the natural course of the nodules. RESULTS Twelve nodules in 14 patients did not increase in size and no new nodules appeared in any part of the liver. Ten nodules in 7 patients did not increase in size or arterial vascularity but typical overt HCC appeared in other areas of the liver. Only two nodules in 2 patients increased in size and developed into hypervascular overt HCC during the 15- and 34-month observation periods, respectively. CONCLUSION Nodules with preserved portal perfusion in cirrhotic liver have a low risk of malignant transformation compared with the surrounding liver parenchyma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toyokazu Fukunaga
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kitano Hospital, Osaka, Japan
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Takayasu K, Muramatsu Y, Mizuguchi Y, Ojima H. CT Imaging of early hepatocellular carcinoma and the natural outcome of hypoattenuating nodular lesions in chronic liver disease. Oncology 2007; 72 Suppl 1:83-91. [PMID: 18087187 DOI: 10.1159/000111712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan has designated early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) a clinically early-stage HCC corresponding to a high-grade dysplastic nodule as proposed by the International Working Party. METHODS The majority of resected early HCCs were demonstrated as having hypo- or isoattenuation in the arterial and delayed phases of dynamic CT. RESULTS Only 5% of early HCCs were hyperattenuated on dynamic CT, whereas 94% of advanced small HCC were hyperattenuated. CT arterial portography (CTAP) showed that 66% of early HCCs were hypo- and 34% were isoattenuated. CT hepatic arteriography (CTHA) demonstrated that 55% of them were hypo-, 30% were iso- and the remaining 15% were hyperattenuated. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that most early HCCs receive equal or decreased blood supply from both portal and arterial blood flow compared with surrounding hepatic parenchyma. In contrast, 97% of small advanced HCCs were hypoattenuated on CTAP, and 93% were hyperattenuated on CTHA. For nodule-in-nodule type HCC, the central portion of the lesion was hyperattenuating and the peripheral portion was hypoattenuating in the arterial phase of dynamic CT, and both areas became hypoattenuated in the delayed phase. Sixty hypoattenuating nodular lesions in chronic liver disease were followed periodically with helical CT. Thirty-six (60%) of them developed to the hyperattenuating type (attenuation conversion), 21 were unchanged, and 3 disappeared spontaneously. The hyper-in-hypo-attenuating lesions showed rapid progression to entirely enhanced lesions, i.e. overt HCC. Dynamic CT is recommended as one of the low-invasive imaging modalities to follow the hypoattenuating nodules and to determine the optimal treatment with careful attention being given to intratumoral attenuation conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenichi Takayasu
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
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Guan S, Zhao WD, Zhou KR, Peng WJ, Tang F, Mao J. Assessment of hemodynamics in precancerous lesion of hepatocellular carcinoma: Evaluation with MR perfusion. World J Gastroenterol 2007; 13:1182-6. [PMID: 17451197 PMCID: PMC4146991 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i8.1182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the hemodynamic changes in a precancerous lesion model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
METHODS: Hemodynamic changes in 18 Wistar rats were studied with non-invasive magnetic resonance (MR) perfusion. The changes induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) developed into liver nodular lesions due to hepatic cirrhosis during the progression of carcinogenesis. The MR perfusion data [positive enhancement integral (PEI)] were compared between the nodular lesions corresponding well with MR images and pathology and their surrounding hepatic parenchyma.
RESULTS: A total of 46 nodules were located by MR imaging and autopsy, including 22 dysplastic nodules (DN), 9 regenerative nodules (RN), 10 early HCCs and 5 overt HCCs. Among the 22 DNs, 6 were low-grade DN (LGDN) and 16 were high-grade DN (HGDN). The average PEI of RN, DN, early and overt HCC was 205.67 ± 31.17, 161.94 ± 20.74, 226.09 ± 34.83, 491.86 ± 44.61 respectively, and their liver parenchyma nearby was 204.84 ± 70.19. Comparison of the blood perfusion index between each RN and its surrounding hepatic parenchyma showed no statistically significant difference (P = 0.06). There were significant differences in DN (P = 0.02). During the late hepatic arterial phase, the perfusion curve in DN declined. DN had an iso-signal intensity at the early hepatic arterial phase and a low signal intensity at the portal venous phase. Of the 10 early HCCs, 4 demonstrated less blood perfusion and 6 displayed minimally increased blood flow compared to the surrounding parenchyma. Five HCCs showed significantly increased blood supply compared to the surrounding parenchyma (P = 0.02).
CONCLUSION: Non-invasive MR perfusion can detect changes in blood supply of precancerous lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Guan
- Department of Radiology, 1st Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan Province, China
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Han JK, Kim SJ, Kim SH. Well-differentiated Hepatocellular Carcinoma. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY 2007; 13:427-31. [PMID: 17898561 DOI: 10.3350/kjhep.2007.13.3.427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joon Koo Han
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
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Liu GJ, Xu HX, Lu MD, Xie XY, Xu ZF, Zheng YL, Liang JY. Correlation between enhancement pattern of hepatocellular carcinoma on real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound and tumour cellular differentiation on histopathology. Br J Radiol 2006; 80:321-30. [PMID: 17005515 DOI: 10.1259/bjr/54805002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the enhancement pattern of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and tumour cellular differentiation on histopathology. 189 HCC lesions in 189 patients were retrospectively evaluated with CEUS and histopathological examination. CEUS was performed with SonoVue and contrast pulse sequencing. Histopathological diagnoses were made according to the Edmonson grading system. Significant differences were shown between the time that the HCC became hypoenhancing or remained echogenic in late phase and tumour cellular differentiation (p = 0.006; p = 0.036), but not with the time of commencement of hyperenhancing or commencement of isoenhancing in arterial phase and portal phase (p = 0.164, p = 0.113; p = 0.186, p = 0.070). The timing of HCC becoming hypoenhancing on CEUS is correlated with tumour cellular differentiation; well differentiated tumours wash out more slowly than poorly differentiated ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- G-J Liu
- Department of Medical Ultrasonics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
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Takayasu K, Muramatsu Y, Mizuguchi Y, Okusaka T, Shimada K, Takayama T, Sakamoto M. CT Evaluation of the Progression of Hypoattenuating Nodular Lesions in Virus-Related Chronic Liver Disease. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2006; 187:454-63. [PMID: 16861551 DOI: 10.2214/ajr.05.0705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to clarify the natural outcomes of hypoattenuating nodular lesions in patients with virus-related chronic liver disease depicted on dynamic CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixty lesions (mean size, 1.3 cm) exhibiting hypoattenuation or isoattenuation in the arterial and delayed phases of dynamic CT were retrospectively evaluated with additional CT (mean, six examinations) for a mean period of 838 days. The primary end point was emergence of hyperattenuating areas within hypoattenuating lesions, a phenomenon called attenuation conversion. Cumulative attenuation conversion rates suggesting rates of malignant transformation were calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method, and factors affecting attenuation conversion rate were analyzed with the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS Thirty-six (60%) of 60 hypoattenuating lesions developed to hyperattenuating lesions, 21 were unchanged, and three disappeared spontaneously. The 36 lesions that became hyperattenuating were divided into two subgroups according to lesion enhancement pattern: hyper-in-hypoattenuating (n = 25) and entirely hyperattenuating (n = 11). The cumulative attenuation conversion rates for the 60 hypoattenuating lesions were 15.8%, 44.3%, and 58.7% at 1, 2, and 3 years. The hyper-in-hypoattenuating lesions showed more rapid progression to entirely enhanced lesions. Positive results for hepatitis C viral antibody (p = 0.028) and initial lesion size (p = 0.007) showed a positive correlation with attenuation conversion rate. CONCLUSION Hypoattenuating hepatic nodular lesions in chronic liver disease depicted on dynamic CT have high malignant potential and should be followed with special attention to conversion from hypoattenuation to hyperattenuation to determine the optimal timing of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenichi Takayasu
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan.
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Karadeniz-Bilgili MY, Braga L, Birchard KR, Gerber D, Firat Z, Woosley JT, Shrestha R, Semelka RC. Hepatocellular carcinoma missed on gadolinium enhanced MR imaging, discovered in liver explants: retrospective evaluation. J Magn Reson Imaging 2006; 23:210-5. [PMID: 16416439 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.20491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The main purpose of this study was to determine if hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) missed on prospective magnetic resonance (MR) study could be identified on retrospective MR analysis, and to determine the cause for misdiagnosis. Among 555 patients who underwent liver transplantation between 1993 and 2004, 279 were imaged with MR imaging and four of these revealed HCCs in explanted livers that were not reported on prospective MR reading. The main cause of missed lesions were suboptimal image quality due to inability of patients to suspend respiration; other causes were HCC misinterpreted as high-grade dysplastic nodule and isoenhancement of HCC on early phase images.
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Li CS, Chen RC, Tu HY, Shih LS, Zhang TA, Lii JM, Chen WT, Duh SJ, Chiang LC. Imaging well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma with dynamic triple-phase helical computed tomography. Br J Radiol 2006; 79:659-65. [PMID: 16641423 DOI: 10.1259/bjr/12699987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate the imaging appearance of well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on dynamic CT, a total of 38 histopathologically proven well-differentiated HCC were included in a retrospective study. We reviewed the contrast-enhanced dynamic CT of all 38 tumours for attenuation of each tumour in unenhanced scan, arterial-dominant and delayed portal venous phases. Our results showed that dynamic CT identified 26 (68.4%) out of the 38 lesions. The remaining 12 lesions were isodense compared with surrounding liver parenchyma in each dynamic CT phase. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean size of tumours detected by dynamic CT and that of tumours not detected by dynamic CT (p = 0.1). Of a total of 38 tumours, most were isodense (n = 19) or hypodense (n = 16) in unenhanced scan, mostly hyperdense (n = 18) or isodense (n = 15) in arterial-dominant phase and mostly isodense (n = 22) or hypodense (n = 15) in delayed portal venous phase. Enhancement of tumour was observed in 19 (50.0%) of 38 lesions. In conclusion, the ability of dynamic CT to detect well-differentiated HCC is poor, and negative CT findings cannot exclude the presence of well-differentiated HCC, especially if there is well-grounded clinical suspicion for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- C-S Li
- Department of Radiology, Renai Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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Huang JF, Takayasu K, Okada S, Shimada K, Nakanishi Y, Ikeda M. Primary hepatocellular carcinoma detected long after tumor markers and lymph node metastases--beyond our vision? Dig Dis Sci 2006; 51:610-5. [PMID: 16614975 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-006-3178-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2005] [Accepted: 04/01/2005] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jee-Fu Huang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fooyin University Hospital, Pingtung, Taiwan
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Inoue T, Kudo M, Watai R, Pei Z, Kawasaki T, Minami Y, Chung H, Fukunaga T, Awai K, Maenishi O. Differential diagnosis of nodular lesions in cirrhotic liver by post-vascular phase contrast-enhanced US with Levovist: comparison with superparamagnetic iron oxide magnetic resonance images. J Gastroenterol 2005; 40:1139-47. [PMID: 16378178 DOI: 10.1007/s00535-005-1712-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2005] [Accepted: 07/28/2005] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We investigated the diagnostic utility of post-vascular phase contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (US) and superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as compared to the histological diagnosis of differential grades of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). METHODS Forty-nine patients with histologically characterized liver nodules (well-differentiated HCC, n = 20; moderately differentiated HCC, n = 19; poorly differentiated HCC, n = 1; dysplastic nodule, n = 9) received contrast-enhanced US and SPIO-MRI. Subsequently, we quantitatively evaluated the relationships between the images of the nodules and their histological diagnosis and differential grades. RESULTS The ratio of the echogenicity of the tumorous area to that of the nontumorous area with post-vascular phase contrast-enhanced US (post-vascular phase ratio) decreased as nodules became less differentiated (P < 0.05; Kruskal-Wallis test). The ratio of the intensity of the nontumorous area to that of the tumorous area on SPIO-enhanced MR images (SPIO intensity index) also decreased as nodules became less differentiated (P < 0.01). The post-vascular phase ratio correlated with the SPIO intensity index for HCCs and dysplastic nodules (r = 0.76). The conformity of the result from the post-vascular phase contrast-enhanced US and SPIO-MRI was 96%. CONCLUSIONS Contrast-enhanced US is a valuable method for predicting the histological grade of HCCs in cirrhotic patients, and may be a good alternative to SPIO-enhanced MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuo Inoue
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kinki University School of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-Higashi, Osaka-Sayama 589-8511, Japan
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Shinmura R, Matsui O, Kobayashi S, Terayama N, Sanada J, Ueda K, Gabata T, Kadoya M, Miyayama S. Cirrhotic nodules: association between MR imaging signal intensity and intranodular blood supply. Radiology 2005; 237:512-9. [PMID: 16244260 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2372041389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To retrospectively determine whether there is a relationship between the intranodular blood supply evaluated at computed tomography (CT) during arterial portography (CTAP) and CT during hepatic arteriography (CTHA) and the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging signal intensity of nodules associated with cirrhosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Neither institutional review board approval nor informed consent was required for retrospective reviews of medical records and images. One hundred fourteen hepatocellular nodules 10 mm or greater in largest diameter in 58 patients (39 men, 19 women; mean age, 61 years) with cirrhosis were evaluated at CTAP, CTHA, and MR imaging. The CTAP and CTHA nodule findings were divided into three main types: Type A nodules were isoattenuating at CTAP and hypoattenuating at CTHA; type B nodules, slightly hypoattenuating at CTAP and hypoattenuating at CTHA; and type C nodules, strongly hypoattenuating at CTAP and hyperattenuating at CTHA. The relationships between the CTAP and CTHA findings and the MR imaging signal intensity among these nodules were analyzed by using the chi(2) test. RESULTS On T1-weighted MR images, 27 (63%) of 43 type A nodules were hyperintense, nine (39%) of 23 type B nodules were isointense, and 19 (48%) of 40 type C nodules were hypointense; differences were not significant. On T2-weighted MR images, 31 (72%) of 43 type A nodules were hypointense (P < .05), 12 (52%) of 23 type B nodules were isointense, and 34 (85%) of 40 type C nodules were hyperintense (P < .05). CONCLUSION There was a significant association between intranodular blood supply and nodule signal intensity on T2-weighted MR images. However, study findings did not show whether the blood itself (ie, blood volume or blood flow amount) directly influenced the signal intensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rieko Shinmura
- Department of Radiology, Kanazawa Graduate School of Medical Science, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa 920-8641, Japan.
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Luo BM, Wen YL, Yang HY, Zhi H, Ou B, Ma JH, Pan JS, Dai XN. Differentiation between malignant and benign nodules in the liver: Use of contrast C 3-MODE technology. World J Gastroenterol 2005; 11:2402-7. [PMID: 15832408 PMCID: PMC4305625 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i16.2402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To investigate the value of contrast-enhanced C3-MODE technology in differentiating malignant nodules of liver from the benign ones.
METHODS: Forty-six nodules in 36 patients (29 men and 7 women) were studied by contrast-enhanced C3-MODE technology and contrast-enhanced CT in 1 wk before the biopsy or operation. A low MI monitor and a high MI flash imaging were intermittently performed. After the injection of contrast agent, the period from 10 to 30 s and the time later than 100 s were respectively defined as early arterial phase and the late phase. The vascularities of the liver nodules in the two phases were combined for differential diagnosis. Corresponding to the pathological diagnosis, the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of contrast-enhanced C3-MODE technology were compared to those of contrast-enhanced CT.
RESULTS: By C3-MODE technology, 33 of the 46 liver nodules were demonstrated as defected area in the late phase and were diagnosed as malignant tumors. Of them, 28 with hypervascularity in the early arterial phase were assessed as hepatocellular carcinoma, the other five nodules with rim-like enhancement in the early arterial phase were diagnosed as metastatic tumors. Thirteen nodules were shown as iso or hypervascularity in the late phase as well as centripetal filling in the early arterial phase and we made a diagnosis of hemangioma. Corresponding to the pathological results, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of contrast-enhanced C3-MODE technology in differentiating malignant and benign nodules in the liver were 97.0%, 92.3% and 95.7%, respectively. With comparison to those of contrast CT (sensitivity, 94.1%; specificity, 91.7%; accuracy, 93.5%), the difference was not significant.
CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced C3-MODE technology can effectively differentiate malignant liver tumors from the benign nodules. It highly agrees diagnostically with the pathology. We suggest that it provides a new approach for differential diagnosis of liver nodules in addition to contrast-enhanced CT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao-Ming Luo
- Department of Ultrasound, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 107 Yanjiangxi Rd, Guangzhou 510120, Guangdong Province, China
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Furuta A, Ito K, Fujita T, Koike S, Shimizu A, Matsunaga N. Hepatic enhancement in multiphasic contrast-enhanced MDCT: comparison of high- and low-iodine-concentration contrast medium in same patients with chronic liver disease. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2004; 183:157-62. [PMID: 15208131 DOI: 10.2214/ajr.183.1.1830157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of hepatic enhancement and image quality in patients with cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis who underwent multiphasic contrast-enhanced dynamic imaging on MDCT at least twice using standard (300 mg I/mL) and higher (370 mg I/mL) iodine concentrations in contrast medium during follow-up periods. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study included 20 patients with chronic liver diseases who underwent at least two multiphasic contrast-enhanced dynamic MDCT examinations using 100 mL of standard (300 mg I/mL = group A) and higher (370 mg I/mL = group B) iodine concentrations in contrast medium. After we obtained unenhanced CT scans, we performed multiphasic scanning at 30 sec (arterial phase), 60 sec (portal phase), and 180 sec (late phase) after the start of contrast medium injection. The CT values of hepatic parenchyma, abdominal aorta, and portal vein were measured. The mean enhancement value was defined as the difference in CT values between unenhanced and contrast-enhanced images. Visual image quality was also assessed on the basis of the degree of hepatic and vascular enhancement, rated on a 4-point scale. RESULTS The mean hepatic parenchyma enhancement values in group B was significantly greater (p < 0.001) than those in group A during the portal phase (43.8 +/- 8.2 H vs 36.2 +/- 7.3 H) and the late phase (33.7 +/- 7.0 H vs 27.3 +/- 3.9 H), but the difference on the arterial phase images between the two groups (9.4 +/- 3.2 H vs 8.3 +/- 2.5 H) was not significant. The mean aorta-to-liver contrast during the arterial phase in group B was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than that in group A (236 +/- 40 H vs 193 +/- 32 H). For qualitative analysis, the mean visual scores for hepatic parenchyma and vasculature enhancement in group B were significantly higher than those in group A in arterial phase (p < 0.018), portal phase (p < 0.0001), and late phase (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION In the same patients with chronic liver diseases, a higher iodine concentration (370 mg I/mL) in the contrast medium improves contrast enhancement of liver parenchyma in the portal phase and late phase images, improves overall image quality, and helps improve diagnostic accuracy for liver diseases on multiphasic contrast-enhanced dynamic MDCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiro Furuta
- Department of Radiology, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minamikogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan.
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Kumada T, Nakano S, Toyoda H, Hayashi K, Kiriyama S, Sone Y, Tanikawa M, Hisanaga Y, Yamamoto A, Takeshima K, Hibi T, Yabashi T, Noda T, Sassa T, Furukawa M, Ogawa S. Assessment of tumor hemodynamics in small hepatocellular carcinoma: comparison of Doppler ultrasonography, angiography-assisted computed tomography, and pathological findings. Liver Int 2004; 24:425-31. [PMID: 15482338 DOI: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2004.0932.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
AIM We evaluated the usefulness of Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) for the analysis of tumor hemodynamics in small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS We compared Doppler ultrasound (DUS) findings with angiography-assisted computed tomography (Angio-CT) such as CT during arterial portography and during hepatic arteriography in the evaluation of the intratumoral hemodynamics, and with pathologic findings in 45 small HCC nodules (< or =3.0 cm in diameter) of 43 patients. DUS flow pattern of each nodule was categorized into three types: afferent continuous flow (Type 1), afferent pulsatile flow with afferent continuous flow (Type 2), and afferent pulsatile flow without afferent continuous flow (Type 3). Intratumoral blood supply was determined by Angio-CT, and pathologic findings were evaluated on resected or biopsied specimen. RESULTS Based on Angio-CT findings, Type 1 nodules showed decreased arterial blood supply (ABS) without decreased portal blood supply (PBS). Type 2 nodules showed unchanged ABS but decreased PBS. Type 3 nodules showed both increased ABS and decreased PBS. DUS findings well represented blood supply of HCC evaluated by Angio-CT. In addition, all Type 1 and 2 nodules were well-differentiated HCC, and all Type 3 nodules were moderately or poorly differentiated HCC; DUS findings well reflected differentiation of HCC. CONCLUSIONS DUS is a non-invasive imaging method and can be used for the evaluation of the stage of malignancy of small HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Kumada
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ogaki Municipal Hospital, 4-86 Minaminokawa, Ogaki, Gifu 503-8502, Japan.
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Shinozaki K, Yoshimitsu K, Irie H, Aibe H, Tajima T, Nishie A, Nakayama T, Kakihara D, Shimada M, Honda H. Comparison of Test-Injection Method and Fixed-Time Method for Depiction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Dynamic Steady-State Free Precession Magnetic Resonance Imaging. J Comput Assist Tomogr 2004; 28:628-34. [PMID: 15480036 DOI: 10.1097/01.rct.0000138009.62478.8f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to clarify the usefulness of the test-injection method as compared with the fixed-time method in dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS Ninety-seven patients with a total of 118 hepatocellular carcinomas underwent 3-dimensional fast imaging with steady-state free precession (3D-FISP) for dynamic study of the liver as well as catheter-assisted computed tomography hepatic angiography (CTHA) for preoperative evaluation. In 42 cases, the fixed-time method (30-second scan time delay in the hepatic arterial phase [HAP]) was performed (group 1), and in 55 cases, the test-injection method was performed (group 2). The following parameters were evaluated: 1) the adequacy of the HAP, 2) tumor vascularity using CTHA findings as a gold standard, and 3) the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the HCC during the HAP of dynamic MR imaging. RESULTS In group 1, 79% (33 of 42) of the cases were obtained at the optimal HAP; the percentage in group 2 was 98% (54 of 55) of the cases. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The vascularity of 82% of the tumors in group 1 and 89% of those in group 2 was diagnosed correctly. Regarding hypervascular tumors, correct evaluation of tumor vascularity was made in 87% of group 1 cases and 95% of group 2 cases. No significant difference was present between the 2 groups (total: P = 0.43, hypervascular HCC: P = 0.29). 3) The CNR calculated for all HCCs in group 2 (mean +/- SD: 8.66 +/- 11.0) was significantly higher than that for HCCs in group 1 (4.29 +/- 9.44; P < 0.05). As for the hypervascular tumors, the CNR calculated for group 2 (mean +/- SD: 9.89 +/- 10.6) was also significantly higher than that for group 1 (5.52 +/- 9.81; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The 3D-FISP dynamic MR imaging using the test-injection method resulted in better demonstration of HCC than the 3D-FISP using the fixed-time method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Shinozaki
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 3-1-1, Maidashi, Higashi-ku Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
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Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is an increasingly common clinical problem. Investigators have begun to understand aspects of the pathogenesis of the tumor, mainly from a morphologic point of view. Preneoplastic lesions and early cancer may be difficult to distinguish radiologically. Nonetheless, programs for surveillance of liver cancer have been developed. Little uniformity exists in methods of surveillance, and even less in methods of investigation and follow-up after an abnormal result is obtained. This article attempts to bring some rigor to the understanding of hepatocellular carcinoma.
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