Non-invasive diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma ⩽2 cm in cirrhosis. Diagnostic accuracy assessing fat, capsule and signal intensity at dynamic MRI

• Published in: Journal of hepatology Vol. 56; no. 6; pp. 1317 - 1323
• Main Authors: Rimola, Jordi, Forner, Alejandro, Tremosini, Silvia, Reig, Maria, Vilana, Ramón, Bianchi, Luis, Rodríguez-Lope, Carlos, Solé, Manel, Ayuso, Carmen, Bruix, Jordi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier 01.06.2012
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - diagnosis; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology; Female; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Liver Cirrhosis - complications; Liver Neoplasms - diagnosis; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Other diseases. Semiology; Prospective Studies; Tumors; magnetic resonance imaging; contrast enhanced ultrasonography; MRI; ultrasonography; Magnetic resonance; HCC; Cirrhosis; American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases; AASLD; FNB; Diagnosis; fine needle biopsy; Dynamic imaging; hepatocellular carcinoma; US; CEUS; Intensity; Fat signal; Hepatic disease; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Malignant tumor; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Accuracy; Gastroenterology; Medical imagery; Digestive diseases; Cancer
• ISSN: 0168-8278; 1600-0641
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2012.01.004

Background & Aims To prospectively assess the diagnostic accuracy of the incorporation of additional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters in those based on contrast enhancement pattern for the diagnosis of solitary nodules between 5 and 20 mm, detected during surveillance in patients with cirrhosis. Methods Between November 2003 and January 2010, we prospectively included 159 cirrhotic patients with a newly detected solitary nodule between 5 and 20 mm in diameter by screening ultrasonography (US). Hepatic MRI and fine-needle biopsy were performed in all patients. Results Final diagnoses were hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (n = 103), other malignant lesions (intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma/metastases) (n = 4), and benign lesions (n = 52). The specific enhancement pattern (arterial enhancement followed by washout) yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 58.3% and 96.4%, respectively. Peritumoral capsule was present in 43 HCC and in 2 non-HCC lesions. Intralesional fat was detected in 24 nodules; 5 nodules were non-HCC. Finally, the presence of both capsule and fat was observed in 10 cases, all of them HCC (100% specificity), but all of them also displayed the specific enhancement pattern, thus adding no sensitivity or specificity. Conclusions Conclusive non-invasive diagnosis of HCC in cirrhosis should be based only on the contrast enhancement pattern, while other characteristics at MRI do not increase the diagnostic accuracy.