1
|
Brandi N, Renzulli M. Liver Lesions at Risk of Transformation into Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Cirrhotic Patients: Hepatobiliary Phase Hypointense Nodules without Arterial Phase Hyperenhancement. J Clin Transl Hepatol 2024; 12:100-112. [PMID: 38250460 PMCID: PMC10794268 DOI: 10.14218/jcth.2023.00130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent technical advances in liver imaging and surveillance for patients at high risk for developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have led to an increase in the detection of borderline hepatic nodules in the gray area of multistep carcinogenesis, particularly in those that are hypointense at the hepatobiliary phase (HBP) and do not show arterial phase hyperenhancement. Given their potential to transform and advance into hypervascular HCC, these nodules have progressively attracted the interest of the scientific community. To date, however, no shared guidelines have been established for the decision management of these borderline hepatic nodules. It is therefore extremely important to identify features that indicate the malignant potential of these nodules and the likelihood of vascularization. In fact, a more complete knowledge of their history and evolution would allow outlining shared guidelines for their clinical-surgical management, to implement early treatment programs and decide between a preventive curative treatment or a watchful follow-up. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on hepatic borderline nodules, particularly focusing on those imaging features which are hypothetically correlated with their malignant evolution, and to discuss current guidelines and ongoing management in clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Brandi
- Department of Radiology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Matteo Renzulli
- Department of Radiology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Park HJ, Lee TY, Kim SY, Kim MJ, Singal AG, Lee SJ, Won HJ, Byun JH, Lim YS. Hypervascular transformation of hepatobiliary phase hypointense nodules without arterial phase hyperenhancement on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI: long-term follow-up in a surveillance cohort. Eur Radiol 2022; 32:5064-5074. [PMID: 35229195 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-022-08623-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES With the increasing use of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI for HCC surveillance, hepatobiliary phase (HBP) hypointense nodules without arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE) are frequently encountered. We investigated the rate of these nodules with hypervascular transformation, which suggests hepatocarcinogenesis, by using a prospectively collected longitudinal surveillance cohort data. METHODS This study included 382 prospectively enrolled patients at high risk for developing HCC who underwent 1-3 rounds of bi-annual surveillance gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI. MRI was analyzed to detect HBP hypointense nodules without APHE. Follow-up dynamic CTs and MRIs were evaluated to detect hypervascular transformation of the nodules. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to find predictors for hypervascular transformation. RESULTS A total of 76 HBP hypointense nodules without APHE were found in 48 patients, giving a prevalence of 12.6% (48/382). The mean nodule size was 10.8 mm, with 43.4% (33/76) being ≥ 10 mm. Over a median follow-up of 78.6 months, 19 nodules (25.0%) showed hypervascular transformation, all of which demonstrated typical imaging features of HCC. On multivariable Cox-regression analysis, size (≥ 10 mm) was the only independent predictor of hypervascular transformation (hazard ratio, 3.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.21-9.05). The cumulative incidence of hypervascular transformation at 12 and 60 months of nodules ≥ 10 mm was 12.3% and 50.4%, respectively, while that of nodules < 10 mm was 2.5% and 13.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS About half of the HBP hypointense nodules ≥ 10 mm without APHE transformed to HCC at 5 years of follow-up, indicating the necessity for cautious monitoring with an augmented and extended follow-up schedule for these nodules. KEY POINTS • The prevalence of HBP hypointense nodules without APHE was 12.6% in a prospectively recruited population at high risk of developing HCC. • Nodule size ≥ 10 mm was significantly associated with hypervascular transformation, and approximately half of the HBP hypointense nodules ≥ 10 mm without APHE transformed to HCC during 5 years of follow-up. • Given the risk of malignant transformation, HBP hypointense nodules ≥ 10 mm without APHE should be closely monitored.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyo Jung Park
- Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Young Lee
- Department of Radiology, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
| | - So Yeon Kim
- Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea. .,Liver Cancer Center, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Min-Ju Kim
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Amit G Singal
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - So Jung Lee
- Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.,Liver Cancer Center, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung Jin Won
- Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.,Liver Cancer Center, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Ho Byun
- Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.,Liver Cancer Center, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Suk Lim
- Liver Cancer Center, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Department of Gastroenterology, Liver Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhao J, Gao S, Sun W, Grimm R, Fu C, Han J, Sheng R, Zeng M. Magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging-based histogram analyses in predicting glypican 3-positive hepatocellular carcinoma. Eur J Radiol 2021; 139:109732. [PMID: 33905978 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2021.109732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We aimed to investigate the potential MR imaging findings in predicting glypican-3 (GPC3)-positive hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), with special emphasis on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)-based histogram analyses. METHODS Forty-three patients with pathologically-confirmed GPC3-negative HCCs and 100 patients with GPC3-positive HCCs were retrospectively evaluated using contrast-enhanced MRI and DWI. Clinical characteristics and MRI features including DWI-based histogram features were assessed and compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the significant clinico-radiologic variables associated with GPC3 expressions that were then incorporated into a predictive nomogram. Nomogram performance was evaluated based on calibration, discrimination, and decision curve analyses. RESULTS Features significantly related to GPC3-positive HCCs at univariate analyses were serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels >20 ng/mL (P < 0.0001), absence of enhancing capsule (P = 0.040), peritumoral enhancement appearance on the arterial phase (P = 0.049), as well as lower mean (P = 0.0278), median (P = 0.0372) and 75th percentile (P = 0.0085) apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. At multivariate analysis, the AFP levels (odds ratio, 11.236; P < 0.0001) and 75th percentile ADC values (odds ratio, 1.009; P = 0.033) were independent risk factors associated with GPC3-positive HCCs. When both criteria were combined, both sensitivity (79.0 %) and specificity (79.1 %) greater than 75 % were achieved, and satisfactory predictive nomogram performance was obtained with a C-index of 0.804 (95 % confidence interval, 0.729-0.866). Decision curve analysis further confirmed the clinical usefulness of the nomogram. CONCLUSIONS Elevated serum AFP levels and lower 75th percentile ADC values were helpful in differentiating GPC3-positive and GPC3-negative HCCs. The combined nomogram achieved satisfactory preoperative risk prediction of GPC3 expression in HCC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiangtao Zhao
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Shanshan Gao
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Wei Sun
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Robert Grimm
- MR Application Predevelopment, Siemens Healthcare GmbH, 91052, Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Caixia Fu
- MR Application Development, Siemens Shenzhen Magnetic Resonance Ltd., Shenzhen, 518057, China.
| | - Jing Han
- Department of Pathology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 20032, China.
| | - Ruofan Sheng
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Mengsu Zeng
- Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Cannella R, Vernuccio F, Sagreiya H, Choudhury KR, Iranpour N, Marin D, Furlan A. Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) v2018: diagnostic value of ancillary features favoring malignancy in hypervascular observations ≥ 10 mm at intermediate (LR-3) and high probability (LR-4) for hepatocellular carcinoma. Eur Radiol 2020; 30:3770-3781. [PMID: 32107603 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-020-06698-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study was conducted in order to assess the diagnostic accuracy of LI-RADS v2018 ancillary features (AFs) favoring malignancy applied to LR-3 and LR-4 observations on gadoxetate-enhanced MRI. METHODS In this retrospective dual-institution study, we included consecutive patients at high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) imaged with gadoxetate disodium-enhanced MRI between 2009 and 2014 fulfilling the following criteria: (i) at least one LR-3 or LR-4 observation ≥ 10 mm; (ii) nonrim arterial phase hyperenhancement; and (iii) confirmation of benignity or malignancy by pathology or imaging follow-up. We compared the distribution of AFs between HCCs and benign observations and the diagnostic performance for the diagnosis of HCC using univariate and multivariate analyses. Significance was set at p value < 0.05. RESULTS Two hundred five observations were selected in 155 patients (108 M, 47 F) including 167 (81.5%) LR-3 and 38 (18.5%) LR-4. There were 126 (61.5%) HCCs and 79 (28.5%) benign lesions. A significantly larger number of AFs favoring malignancy were found in LR-3 and LR-4 lesions that progressed to HCC compared to benign lesions (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively). The most common AFs favoring malignancy in HCCs were hepatobiliary phase (HBP) hypointensity (p < 0.001), transitional phase hypointensity (p < 0.001), and mild-moderate T2 hyperintensity (p < 0.001). Sensitivity and specificity of AFs for the diagnosis of HCC ranged 0.8-76.2% and 86.1-100%, respectively. HBP hypointensity yielded the highest sensitivity but also the lowest specificity and was the only AF remaining independently associated with the diagnosis of HCC at multivariate logistic regression analysis (OR 14.83, 95% CI 5.81-42.76, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Among all AFs, HBP hypointensity yields the highest sensitivity for the diagnosis of HCC. KEY POINTS • LR-3 and LR-4 observations diagnosed as HCC have a significantly higher number of ancillary features favoring malignancy compared to observations proven to be benign. • The presence of three or more ancillary features favoring malignancy has a high specificity (96.2%) for the diagnosis of HCC. • Among all ancillary features favoring malignancy, hepatobiliary phase hypointensity yields the highest sensitivity, but also the lowest specificity for the diagnosis of HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Cannella
- Section of Radiology - BiND, University Hospital "Paolo Giaccone", Via del Vespro 127, 90127, Palermo, Italy.,Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Federica Vernuccio
- Section of Radiology - BiND, University Hospital "Paolo Giaccone", Via del Vespro 127, 90127, Palermo, Italy.,Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.,Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties) University Hospital of Palermo, Via del Vespro 127, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Hersh Sagreiya
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 190104, USA
| | - Kingshuk Roy Choudhury
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Negaur Iranpour
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Daniele Marin
- Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Alessandro Furlan
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chernyak V, Fowler KJ, Heiken JP, Sirlin CB. Use of gadoxetate disodium in patients with chronic liver disease and its implications for liver imaging reporting and data system (LI-RADS). J Magn Reson Imaging 2019; 49:1236-1252. [DOI: 10.1002/jmri.26540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Revised: 09/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Chernyak
- Department of Radiology, Montefiore Medical Center; Bronx New York USA
| | - Kathryn J. Fowler
- Liver Imaging Group, Department of Radiology; University of California - San Diego; California USA
| | - Jay P. Heiken
- Department of Radiology; Mayo Clinic; Rochester Minnesota USA
| | - Claude B. Sirlin
- Liver Imaging Group, Department of Radiology; University of California - San Diego; California USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ippolito D, Inchingolo R, Grazioli L, Drago SG, Nardella M, Gatti M, Faletti R. Recent advances in non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2018; 24:2413-2426. [PMID: 29930464 PMCID: PMC6010944 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v24.i23.2413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the liver is an important tool for the detection and characterization of focal liver lesions and for assessment of diffuse liver disease, having several intrinsic characteristics, represented by high soft tissue contrast, avoidance of ionizing radiation or iodinated contrast media, and more recently, by application of several functional imaging techniques (i.e., diffusion-weighted sequences, hepatobiliary contrast agents, perfusion imaging, magnetic resonance (MR)-elastography, and radiomics analysis). MR functional imaging techniques are extensively used both in routine practice and in the field of clinical and pre-clinical research because, through a qualitative rather than quantitative approach, they can offer valuable information about tumor tissue and tissue architecture, cellular biomarkers related to the hepatocellular functions, or tissue vascularization profiles related to tumor and tissue biology. This kind of approach offers in vivo physiological parameters, capable of evaluating physiological and pathological modifications of tissues, by the analysis of quantitative data that could be used in tumor detection, characterization, treatment selection, and follow-up, in addition to those obtained from standard morphological imaging. In this review we provide an overview of recent advanced techniques in MR for the diagnosis and staging of hepatocellular carcinoma, and their role in the assessment of response treatment evaluation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davide Ippolito
- School of Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan 20126, Italy
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, HS Gerardo Monza, Monza (MB) 20900, Italy
| | - Riccardo Inchingolo
- Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Madonna delle Grazie Hospital, Matera 75100, Italy
| | - Luigi Grazioli
- Department of Radiology, University of Brescia “Spedali Civili”, Brescia 25123, Italy
| | - Silvia Girolama Drago
- School of Medicine, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan 20126, Italy
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, HS Gerardo Monza, Monza (MB) 20900, Italy
| | - Michele Nardella
- Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, Madonna delle Grazie Hospital, Matera 75100, Italy
| | - Marco Gatti
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Radiology Unit, University of Turin, Turin 10126, Italy
| | - Riccardo Faletti
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Radiology Unit, University of Turin, Turin 10126, Italy
| |
Collapse
|