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BMC Medical Imaging
Published in: BMC Medical Imaging 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Qualitative analysis of small (≤2 cm) regenerative nodules, dysplastic nodules and well-differentiated HCCs with gadoxetic acid MRI

Authors: Michele Di Martino, Michele Anzidei, Fulvio Zaccagna, Luca Saba, Sandro Bosco, Massimo Rossi, Stefano Ginanni Corradini, Carlo Catalano

Published in: BMC Medical Imaging | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

The characterization of small lesions in cirrhotic patients is extremely difficult due to the overlap of imaging features among different entities in the step-way of the hepatocarcinogenesis. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of gadoxetic-acid MRI in the differentiation of small (≤2 cm) well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinomas from regenerative and dysplastic nodules.

Methods

Seventy-three cirrhotic patients, with 118 focal liver lesions (≤2 cm) were prospectively recruited. MRI examination was performed with a 3T magnet and the study protocol included T1 - and T2-weighted pre-contrast sequences and T1 -weighted gadoxetic-acid enhanced post-contrast sequences obtained during the arterial, venous, late dynamic and hepatobiliary phases. All lesions were pathologically confirmed. Two radiologists blinded to clinical and pathological information evaluated two imaging datasets; another radiologist analysed the signal intensity characteristics of each lesion. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy were considered for statistical analysis.

Results

Good agreement was reported between the two readers (κ 0.70). Both readers reported a significantly improved sensitivity (57.7 and 66.2 vs 74.6 and 83.1) and diagnostic accuracy (0.717 and 0.778 vs 0.843 and 0.901) with the adjunction of the hepatobiliary phase 57.7 vs 74.6 and 66.2 vs 83.1 (p ≤ 0.04).

Conclusions

Gadoxetic-acid MRI is a reliable tool for the characterization of HCC and lesions at high risk to further develop.
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Metadata
Title
Qualitative analysis of small (≤2 cm) regenerative nodules, dysplastic nodules and well-differentiated HCCs with gadoxetic acid MRI
Authors
Michele Di Martino
Michele Anzidei
Fulvio Zaccagna
Luca Saba
Sandro Bosco
Massimo Rossi
Stefano Ginanni Corradini
Carlo Catalano
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Medical Imaging / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2342
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-016-0165-5

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