Primary isolated hepatic tuberculosis mimicking small hepatocellular carcinoma: A case report

Prediction of preoperative microvascular invasion by dynamic radiomic analysis based on contrast-enhanced computed tomography

PURPOSE

Microvascular invasion (MVI) is a common complication of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surgery, which is an important predictor of reduced surgical prognosis. This study aimed to develop a fully automated diagnostic model to predict pre-surgical MVI based on four-phase dynamic CT images.

METHODS

A total of 140 patients with HCC from two centers were retrospectively included (training set, n = 98; testing set, n = 42). All CT phases were aligned to the portal venous phase, and were then used to train a deep-learning model for liver tumor segmentation. Radiomics features were extracted from the tumor areas of original CT phases and pairwise subtraction images, as well as peritumoral features. Lastly, linear discriminant analysis (LDA) models were trained based on clinical features, radiomics features, and hybrid features, respectively. Models were evaluated by area under curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV).

RESULTS

Overall, 86 and 54 patients with MVI- (age, 55.92 ± 9.62 years; 68 men) and MVI+ (age, 53.59 ± 11.47 years; 43 men) were included. Average dice coefficients of liver tumor segmentation were 0.89 and 0.82 in training and testing sets, respectively. The model based on radiomics (AUC = 0.865, 95% CI: 0.725-0.951) showed slightly better performance than that based on clinical features (AUC = 0.841, 95% CI: 0.696-0.936). The classification model based on hybrid features achieved better performance in both training (AUC = 0.955, 95% CI: 0.893-0.987) and testing sets (AUC = 0.913, 95% CI: 0.785-0.978), compared with models based on clinical and radiomics features (p-value < 0.05). Moreover, the hybrid model also provided the best accuracy (0.857), sensitivity (0.875), and NPV (0.917).

CONCLUSION

The classification model based on multimodal intra- and peri-tumoral radiomics features can well predict HCC patients with MVI.

Tuberculous liver abscess as a unique cause of liver abscess: A case report and literature review

Introduction

TLA is most commonly associated with an immunocompromised state, a focus of infection in the lungs or gastrointestinal system, or as part of congenital or miliary tuberculosis. Isolated TLA is rare, with only a few cases reported in the literature.

Methods

We describe a case of a 24-years-old healthy male with an isolated Tuberculous Liver abscess presented with prolonged fever, abdominal pain, and general malaise. He was successfully treated with a 6-month antituberculosis regimen and percutaneous abscess drainage.

Discussion and conclusion

The signs and symptoms of isolated TLA are nonspecific. The diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion, especially in endemic areas and in individuals with a known tuberculosis risk factor. A better outcome is linked to an early diagnosis and timely treatment with systemic Antituberculous medications. This case report highlights the importance of considering TLA (Tuberculous or Tubercular Liver Abscess) when diagnosing hepatic masses or abscesses as a possible cause of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB).

Case report: Hepatic tuberculosis mimicking hepatocellular carcinoma in a patient with cirrhosis induced by hepatitis B virus

Hepatic tuberculosis (TB), which is secondary to post-hepatitis B cirrhosis, is extremely rare. We report the case of a 69-year-old man with post-hepatitis B cirrhosis complicated by primary isolated hepatic TB who was initially misdiagnosed as having hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The patient was hospitalized with complaints of 2 weeks of fever. He had a 20-year history of post-hepatitis B cirrhosis. The laboratory tests suggested that his serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level was markedly elevated to 1210 ng/ml. From the abdominal ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images, we confirmed the presence of cirrhosis and discovered a space-occupying lesion of the hepatic left lobe as well as portal vein-filling defects. These results led us to consider primary liver cancer and portal vein tumor thrombus combined with decompensated cirrhosis. Biopsy and histology may be considered the ultimate diagnostic tests, but we excluded needle biopsy because of his high risk of bleeding, in addition, the patient declined the procedure. To cope with his fever, the patient was given broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment initially, followed by intravenous vancomycin. After antibiotic treatment had failed, the patient was treated with anti-TB for 10 days; after that, the patient maintained a normal temperature. The patient continued to receive tuberculostatic therapy for 6 months following his discharge. AFP completely returned to the normal level, and the aforementioned mass disappeared. Finally, hepatic TB secondary to post-hepatitis B cirrhosis with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) was considered to be the final diagnosis. More than two imaging techniques discover a space-occupying liver lesion and that the serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level is extremely elevated, which means that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) could be diagnosed. However, some exceedingly rare diseases should not be excluded. This case illustrated that the non-invasive diagnostic criteria for liver cancer should be considered carefully when discovering a space-occupying liver lesion in a patient with cirrhosis and an elevated AFP level. In addition, primary hepatic TB should be considered and included in the differential diagnosis, and a biopsy should be performed promptly.

[Hepatic granuloma-A diagnostic challenge]

Hepatic granulomas can have various causes and their detection requires a systematic diagnostic evaluation. First, identification of risk factors for granulomatous diseases and the exclusion of extrahepatic organ manifestation are necessary. Laboratory investigations and serological screening for the most common underlying diseases of liver granulomas in Germany, such as primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), sarcoidosis and infectious causes (primarily tuberculosis and hepatitis C infections), are recommended. A liver biopsy is essential for confirming the diagnosis, whereby a minilaparoscopically guided tissue sampling offers many advantages, such as the macroscopic detection of granulomas on the liver surface, on the peritoneum or on the spleen. Whether the detection of hepatic granulomas results in a therapeutic consequence, depends decisively on the underlying primary disease. If hepatic granulomas are present without concomitant liver parenchymal damage or other manifestations that would make treatment necessary, a watch and wait approach under close clinical and laboratory monitoring is sufficient. If liver values increase or in cases of hepatic parenchymal damage, urgent treatment of the underlying disease is indicated.

Radiomics for the detection of microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer, accounting for about 90% of liver cancer cases. It is currently the fifth most common cancer in the world and the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Moreover, recurrence of HCC is common. Microvascular invasion (MVI) is a major factor associated with recurrence in postoperative HCC. It is difficult to evaluate MVI using traditional imaging modalities. Currently, MVI is assessed primarily through pathological and immunohistochemical analyses of postoperative tissue samples. Needle biopsy is the primary method used to confirm MVI diagnosis before surgery. As the puncture specimens represent just a small part of the tumor, and given the heterogeneity of HCC, biopsy samples may yield false-negative results. Radiomics, an emerging, powerful, and non-invasive tool based on various imaging modalities, such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, and positron emission tomography, can predict the HCC-MVI status preoperatively by delineating the tumor and/or the regions at a certain distance from the surface of the tumor to extract the image features. Although positive results have been reported for radiomics, its drawbacks have limited its clinical translation. This article reviews the application of radiomics, based on various imaging modalities, in preoperative evaluation of HCC-MVI and explores future research directions that facilitate its clinical translation.

US-Based Deep Learning Model for Differentiating Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) From Other Malignancy in Cirrhotic Patients

The aim was to build a predictive model based on ultrasonography (US)-based deep learning model (US-DLM) and clinical features (Clin) for differentiating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from other malignancy (OM) in cirrhotic patients. 112 patients with 120 HCCs and 60 patients with 61 OMs were included. They were randomly divided into training and test cohorts with a 4:1 ratio for developing and evaluating US-DLM model, respectively. Significant Clin predictors of OM in the training cohort were combined with US-DLM to build a nomogram predictive model (US-DLM+Clin). The diagnostic performance of US-DLM and US-DLM+Clin were compared with that of contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) liver imaging and reporting system category M (MRI LR-M). US-DLM was the best independent predictor for evaluating OMs, followed by clinical information, including high cancer antigen 199 (CA199) level and female. The US-DLM achieved an AUC of 0.74 in the test cohort, which was comparable with that of MRI LR-M (AUC=0.84, p=0.232). The US-DLM+Clin for predicting OMs also had similar AUC value (0.81) compared with that of LR-M+Clin (0.83, p>0.05). US-DLM+Clin obtained a higher specificity, but a lower sensitivity, compared to that of LR-M +Clin (Specificity: 82.6% vs. 73.9%, p=0.007; Sensitivity: 78.6% vs. 92.9%, p=0.006) for evaluating OMs in the test set. The US-DLM+Clin model is valuable in differentiating HCC from OM in the setting of cirrhosis.

Diagnosis of Non-Hepatocellular Carcinoma Malignancies in Patients With Risks for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: CEUS LI-RADS Versus CT/MRI LI-RADS

Objective

Data regarding direct comparison of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) and Computed Tomography/Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CT/MR) LI-RADS in diagnosis of non-hepatocelluar carcinoma (non-HCC) malignancies remain limited. Our study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of the CEUS LI-RADS version 2017 and CT/MRI LI-RADS v2018 for diagnosing non-HCC malignancies in patients with risks for HCC.

Materials and Methods

In this retrospective study, 94 liver nodules pathologically-confirmed as non-HCC malignancies in 92 patients at risks for HCC from January 2009 to December 2018 were enrolled. The imaging features and the LI-RADS categories on corresponding CEUS and CT/MRI within 1 month were retrospectively analyzed according to the ACR CEUS LI-RADS v2017 and ACR CT/MRI LI-RADS v2018 by two radiologists in consensus for each algorithm. The sensitivity of LR-M category, inter-reader agreement and inter-modality agreement was compared between these two standardized algorithms.

Results

Ninety-four nodules in 92 patients (mean age, 54 years ± 10 [standard deviation] with 65 men [54 years ± 11] and 27 women [54 years ± 8]), including 56 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas, 34 combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinomas, two adenosquamous carcinomas of the liver, one primary hepatic neuroendocrine carcinoma and one hepatic undifferentiated sarcoma were included. On CEUS, numbers of lesions classified as LR-3, LR-4, LR-5 and LR-M were 0, 1, 10 and 83, and on CT/MRI, the corresponding numbers were 3, 0, 14 and 77. There was no significant difference in the sensitivity of LR-M between these two standardized algorithms (88.3% of CEUS vs 81.9% of CT/MRI, p = 0.210). Seventy-seven lesions (81.9%) were classified as the same LI-RADS categories by both standardized algorithms (five for LR-5 and 72 for LR-M, kappa value = 0.307). In the subgroup analysis for ICC and CHC, no significant differences were found in the sensitivity of LR-M category between these two standardized algorithms (for ICC, 94.6% of CEUS vs 89.3% of CT/MRI, p = 0.375; for CHC, 76.5% of CEUS vs 70.6% of CT/MRI, p = 0. 649).

Conclusion

CEUS LI-RADS v2017 and CT/MRI LI-RADS v2018 showed similar value for diagnosing non-HCC primary hepatic malignancies in patients with risks.

Liver Imaging and Data System (LI-RADS) Version 2018 and Other Imaging Features in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma in Chinese Adults with vs. without Chronic Hepatitis B Viral Infection

PURPOSE

To describe liver imaging reporting and data system (LI-RADS) version 2018 and other MRI imaging features in intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) in Chinese adults with vs. without chronic hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection.

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled 89 patients with pathologically proven iCCA after multiphase imaging performed between 2004 and 2017 at a tertiary medical center in southern China. Based on whether patients had chronic HBV, iCCA was divided into two subgroups: HBV-positive (n = 50 patients, including 9 with cirrhosis) vs. HBV-negative (n = 39 patients, including 14 with hepatolithiasis and 25 with no identifiable risk factor for iCCA; none had cirrhosis). Two independent abdominal radiologists in consensus reviewed the largest mass in each patient to assign LI-RADS v2018 features; they also scored each observation's shape and location. Imaging features were compared using chi-square or Fisher's exact tests.

RESULTS

Most iCCAs in HBV-positive (88% (44/50)) and HBV-negative (97% (38/39)) patients had at least one LR-M feature. Compared to iCCAs in HBV-negative patients, iCCAs in HBV-positive patients were more likely to have at least one major feature of HCC (46% (23/50) vs. 8% (3/39), P < 0.001) and more likely to be smooth (42% (21/50) vs. 10% (4/39), P = 0.001). Six of 50 (12%) iCCAs in HBV-positive patients and 1/39 (3%) iCCAs in HBV-negative patients had at least one major feature of HCC without any LR-M feature.

CONCLUSIONS

In this retrospective single-center study in Chinese adults, iCCAs in HBV-positive patients were more likely to resemble HCCs than iCCAs in HBV-negative patients.