Published in:
01-11-2012 | Original article
Risk of hypervascularization in small hypovascular hepatic nodules showing hypointense in the hepatobiliary phase of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI in patients with chronic liver disease
Authors:
Megumi Takechi, Takaharu Tsuda, Shinji Yoshioka, Shigetoshi Murata, Hiroaki Tanaka, Masashi Hirooka, Teruhito Mochizuki
Published in:
Japanese Journal of Radiology
|
Issue 9/2012
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Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to elucidate the incidence and risk factors for the progression of hypointense nodules observed in the hepatobiliary phase of gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI) of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Materials and methods
Hypovascular nodules (112) showing hypointensity in the hepatobiliary phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI were examined in 54 patients. All patients underwent computed tomography during hepatic arteriography and computed tomography during arterial portography (CTAP) within a month after Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI. According to the tumor size, 112 nodules were divided into two groups: those >10 mm in diameter (group A, n = 39) and those ≤10 mm in diameter (group B, n = 73). The incidence of progression to hypervascular HCC was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
Results
The incidence of hypervascularization was significantly higher in group A nodules than in group B nodules (p < 0.0001). Tumor size (p < 0.0001) and hypoattenuation in CTAP (p = 0.0004) showed significant correlation with hypervascularization.
Conclusion
Hypointense nodules observed in the hepatobiliary phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI with diameters of >10 mm had a high probability of hypervascularization.