Published in:
01-09-2018
Adding ancillary features to enhancement patterns of hepatocellular carcinoma on gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging improves diagnostic performance
Authors:
Ji Hye Min, Young Kon Kim, Dong Hyun Sinn, Seo-Youn Choi, Woo Kyoung Jeong, Won Jae Lee, Sang Yun Ha, Soohyun Ahn, Min-Ji Kim
Published in:
Abdominal Radiology
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Issue 9/2018
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Abstract
Purpose
To assess the added value of intratumoral ancillary features to conventional enhancement pattern-based diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Materials and methods
A total of 773 consecutive patients with surgically resected 773 primary hepatic tumors (699 HCCs, 63 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas, and 11 benign nodules) who underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI were retrospectively identified. Enhancement patterns and three ancillary features of capsule, septum, and T2 spotty hyperintensity were assessed by two radiologists. Performance of enhancement pattern-based diagnosis of HCC was compared to diagnosis of HCC based on enhancement pattern plus ancillary features.
Results
Enhancement patterns were positive (arterial diffuse hyperenhancement with washout) for 562 (72.7%) tumors, negative (no arterial hyperenhancement and no washout) for 75 (9.7%), and inconclusive (either no arterial hyperenhancement or no washout) for 136 (17.6%). Capsule was observed in 498 (64.4%) tumors, septum in 521 (67.3%), and T2 spotty hyperintensity in 107 (13.8%). The accuracy and sensitivity of HCC diagnosis was improved significantly after adding at least one ancillary feature compared with enhancement pattern-based diagnosis of HCCs (79.9% vs. 91.1% for accuracy, p < 0.0001 and 79.1% vs. 92.0% for sensitivity, p < 0.0001) with a minor tradeoff in specificity (87.8% vs. 82.4%, p = 0.125). Adding at least two ancillary features improved accuracy (88.1%, p < 0.0001) and sensitivity (88.1%, p < 0.0001) without changing specificity (87.8%, p = 1.0).
Conclusion
Adding intratumoral ancillary features of capsule, septum and T2 spotty hyperintensity to conventional enhancement patterns on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI improved accuracy and sensitivity, while maintaining specificity for HCC diagnosis.