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Wilson SR, Burns PN, Kono Y. Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound of Focal Liver Masses: A Success Story. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2020; 46:1059-1070. [PMID: 32059917 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2019.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The epidemic of increasing fatty liver disease and liver cancer worldwide, and especially in Western society, has given new importance to non-invasive liver imaging. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) using microbubble contrast agents provides unique advantages over computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the currently established methods. CEUS provides determination of malignancy and allows excellent differential diagnosis of a focal liver mass, based on arterial phase enhancement patterns and assessment of the timing and intensity of washout. Today, increased use of CEUS has provided safe and rapid diagnosis of incidentally detected liver masses, improved multidisciplinary management of nodules in a cirrhotic liver, facilitated ablative therapy for liver tumors and allowed diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma without biopsy. Benefits of CEUS include the dynamic real-time depiction of tumor perfusion and the fact that it is a purely intravascular agent, accurately reflecting tumoral and inflammatory blood flow. CEUS has many similarities to contrast-enhanced CT and MRI but also unique differences, which are described. The integration of CEUS into a multimodality imaging setting optimizes patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie R Wilson
- Department of Radiology, and Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Peter N Burns
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Imaging Research, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yuko Kono
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
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Ueno A, Masugi Y, Yamazaki K, Kurebayashi Y, Tsujikawa H, Effendi K, Ojima H, Sakamoto M. Precision pathology analysis of the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma: Implication for precision diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Pathol Int 2020; 70:140-154. [PMID: 31908112 DOI: 10.1111/pin.12895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Outcomes for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain poor because the condition is often unresponsive to the available treatments. Consequently, the early and precise diagnosis of HCC is crucial to achieve improvements in prognosis. For patients with chronic liver disease, the assessment of liver fibrosis is also important to ascertain both the staging of fibrosis and the risk of HCC occurrence. Early HCC was first described in 1991 in Japan and was defined internationally in 2009. As the concept of early HCC spread, the multistage hepatocarcinogenesis process became accepted. Consequently, improvements in imaging technology made the early diagnosis of HCC possible. At present, the most appropriate therapeutic strategy for HCC is determined using an integrated staging system that assesses the tumor burden, the degree of liver dysfunction and the patient performance status; however, pathological and molecular features are not taken into account. The recent introduction of several new therapeutic agents will change the treatment strategy for HCC. Against this background, HCC subclassification based on tumor cellular and microenvironmental characteristics will become increasingly important. In this review, we give an overview of how pathological analysis contributes to understanding the development and progression of HCC and establishing a precision diagnosis of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihisa Ueno
- Department of Pathology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yohei Masugi
- Department of Pathology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ken Yamazaki
- Department of Pathology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yutaka Kurebayashi
- Department of Pathology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hanako Tsujikawa
- Department of Pathology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kathryn Effendi
- Department of Pathology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hidenori Ojima
- Department of Pathology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Michiie Sakamoto
- Department of Pathology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Hu J, Bhayana D, Burak KW, Wilson SR. Resolution of indeterminate MRI with CEUS in patients at high risk for hepatocellular carcinoma. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2020; 45:123-133. [PMID: 31440801 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-019-02181-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To show the contribution of CEUS to characterization of indeterminate MRI observations in high-risk patients for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS From July to December 2015, 42 consecutive patients referred to CEUS with indeterminate MRI scans comprise our study cohort. There are 50 indeterminate nodule-like observations and 10 arterial phase hyperenhancing foci, suggesting pseudolesions/arterio-portal shunts. MRI and CEUS lesions are classified according to their enhancement features in all phases and Liver Imaging and Reporting Data System (LI-RADS) in a blind read format. Clinical pathologic correlation and 24 months follow-up are performed. RESULTS A majority, 37/50 (74%), of indeterminate nodule-like observations have arterial phase enhancement without washout on MRI. CEUS further characterizes enhancement and shows washout in 14/37 (38%). In total, CEUS diagnoses 16 malignant lesions in 14 patients including 14 HCC and 2 ICC. 12/16 (75%) malignant lesions are confirmed by biopsy or follow-up. Ultrasound identification of a nodule differentiates real nodules from pseudolesions. Of the ten suspected arterial-portal shunts on MRI, two show a real nodule on ultrasound, confirmed as an HCC and a regenerative nodule. 15/42 (36%) patients have LI-RADS escalated from LR-3 or 4 on MRI to LR-4 or 5 on CEUS. Overall, the sensitivity of CEUS is (13/16) 81.3% and specificity is (37/37) 100% for malignant diagnosis. CONCLUSION Grayscale ultrasound detects true nodules. Dynamic CEUS detects and characterizes washout, correctly predicting HCC. CEUS is complimentary to MRI and can serve as a problem-solving tool when MRI is indeterminate.
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Yoneda N, Matsui O, Kobayashi S, Kitao A, Kozaka K, Inoue D, Yoshida K, Minami T, Koda W, Gabata T. Current status of imaging biomarkers predicting the biological nature of hepatocellular carcinoma. Jpn J Radiol 2019; 37:191-208. [PMID: 30712167 DOI: 10.1007/s11604-019-00817-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is heterogeneous in terms of its biological nature. Various factors related to its biological nature, including size, multifocality, macroscopic morphology, grade of differentiation, macro/microvascular invasion, bile duct invasion, intra-tumoral fat and molecular factors, and their value as prognostic imaging biomarkers have been reported. And recently, genome-based molecular HCC classification correlated with clinical outcome has been elucidated. The imaging biomarkers suggesting a less aggressive nature of HCC are smaller size, solitary tumor, smooth margin suggesting small nodular type with indistinct margin and simple nodular type with distinct margin, capsule, imaging biomarkers predicting early or well-differentiated grade, intra-tumoral fat detection, and low fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) accumulation. The imaging biomarkers suggesting an aggressive HCC nature are larger size, multifocality, non-smooth margin suggesting simple nodular type with extranodular growth, confluent multinodular, and infiltrative type, imaging biomarkers predicting poor differentiation, macrovascular tumor thrombus, predicting microvascular invasion imaging biomarkers, bile duct dilatation or tumor thrombus, and high FDG accumulation. In the genome-based molecular classification, CTNNB-1 mutated HCC shows a less aggressive nature, while CK19/EpCAM positive HCC and macrotrabecular massive HCC show an aggressive one. Better understanding of these imaging biomarkers can contribute to devising more appropriate treatment plans for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norihide Yoneda
- Department of Radiology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8640, Japan.
| | - Osamu Matsui
- Department of Radiology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kobayashi
- Department of Quantum Medical Imaging, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Azusa Kitao
- Department of Radiology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Kazuto Kozaka
- Department of Radiology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Dai Inoue
- Department of Radiology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Kotaro Yoshida
- Department of Radiology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Minami
- Department of Radiology, Kanazawa Medical University, 1-1 Daigaku, Uchinada, Ishikawa, 920-0293, Japan
| | - Wataru Koda
- Department of Radiology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8640, Japan
| | - Toshifumi Gabata
- Department of Radiology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 13-1 Takaramachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8640, Japan
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Nakamura Y, Kawaoka T, Higaki T, Fukumoto W, Honda Y, Iida M, Fujioka C, Kiguchi M, Aikata H, Chayama K, Awai K. Hepatocellular carcinoma treated with sorafenib: Arterial tumor perfusion in dynamic contrast-enhanced CT as early imaging biomarkers for survival. Eur J Radiol 2017; 98:41-49. [PMID: 29279169 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2017.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Revised: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate whether hepatic perfusion CT yields early imaging biomarkers predictive of the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients treated with sorafenib. METHODS We evaluated 36 HCC patients who underwent hepatic perfusion CT before- and one week after sorafenib therapy. We measured arterial and portal perfusion in the hepatic tumor and liver parenchyma [(AP)(PP)tumor], [(AP)(PP)liver]. The perfusion ratio was calculated by dividing the post- by the pre-sorafenib value. The effect of each value on the overall survival rate was analyzed with the Cox proportional hazards model; statistically significant parameters were subjected to receiver operating characteristic analysis based on median survival after sorafenib administration to determine the overall survival rate with the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS Pre-APtumor was significantly associated with the overall survival rate (hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.16 and 0.02-0.84, p=0.03). The APtumor ratio tended to be associated with the overall survival rate (HR and 95% CI, 2.94 and 0.94-7.88, p=0.06). The overall survival rate was higher in patients with pre-APtumor>71.7mL/min/100mL, and with APtumor ratio≦1.1 (p<0.01 and 0.03, respectively, in Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank). CONCLUSION Hepatic perfusion CT yields early imaging biomarkers for predicting overall survival in HCC patients treated with sorafenib.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tomokazu Kawaoka
- Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Hiroshima University, Japan; Hiroshima Liver Research Project Center, Japan.
| | - Toru Higaki
- Diagnostic Radiology, Hiroshima University, Japan.
| | | | - Yukiko Honda
- Diagnostic Radiology, Hiroshima University, Japan.
| | - Makoto Iida
- Diagnostic Radiology, Hiroshima University, Japan.
| | - Chikako Fujioka
- Department of Radiology, Hiroshima University Hospital, Japan.
| | - Masao Kiguchi
- Department of Radiology, Hiroshima University Hospital, Japan.
| | - Hiroshi Aikata
- Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Hiroshima University, Japan; Hiroshima Liver Research Project Center, Japan.
| | - Kazuaki Chayama
- Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Hiroshima University, Japan; Hiroshima Liver Research Project Center, Japan.
| | - Kazuo Awai
- Diagnostic Radiology, Hiroshima University, Japan.
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Midorikawa Y, Takayama T, Nara S, Hashimoto T, Omichi K, Ebisawa K, Higaki T, Tsuji S, Sakamoto H, Shimada K, Makuuchi M. No Need of Immediate Treatment for Hypovascular Tumors Associated with Hepatocellular Carcinoma. World J Surg 2017; 40:2460-5. [PMID: 27142625 DOI: 10.1007/s00268-016-3548-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypovascular tumors associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be diagnosed, but it remains unknown whether such lesions should be treated immediately. This study aimed to clarify the clinical significance of treating hypovascular liver nodules. METHODS After diagnosis of hypovascular tumors smaller than 3 cm, 104 patients underwent liver resection immediately (Group 1), while 93 patients were placed under observation (Group 2). In Group 1, 98 patients were diagnosed as having HCC (Group 1'), while 80 patients in Group 2 underwent liver resection after vascularization or appearance of other hypervascular HCC (Group 2'), eight patients had been observed, and five patients could not undergo operation due to appearance of other multiple HCCs. To avoid lead time bias for tumor vascularization, survival rates of patients after diagnosis of hypovascular tumors as well as those after operation in the two groups were compared. RESULTS After a median follow-up of 3.3 years (range 0.6-11.2), the 5-year overall survival rates after liver resection of Group 1' (74.8 %; 95 % CI 64.3-86.1) was significantly higher than that of Group 2' (59.2 %; 46.4-75.6; P = 0.027). However, the 5-year overall survival rates after diagnosis of hypovascular liver nodules of Group 1' (74.7 %; 66.1-85.0) was not significantly different from that of Group 2' (77.1 %; 67.0-88.6; P = 0.761). Consequently, the 5-year overall survival rate after diagnosis of Group 2 (75.6 %; 64.7-83.1) was not significantly different from that of Group 1 (73.2 %; 67.5-86.1; P = 0.591) by intention-to-treat analysis. CONCLUSIONS It is not necessary to treat hypovascular liver tumors immediately after diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaka Midorikawa
- Department of Digestive Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30-1 Oyaguchikami-machi, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, 173-8610, Japan
| | - Tadatoshi Takayama
- Department of Digestive Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30-1 Oyaguchikami-machi, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, 173-8610, Japan.
| | - Satoshi Nara
- Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery Division, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, 104-0054, Japan
| | - Takuya Hashimoto
- Division of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Transplantation Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Medical Center, Tokyo, 150-8935, Japan
| | - Kiyohiko Omichi
- Department of Surgery, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, 362-0806, Japan
| | - Kiyoko Ebisawa
- Department of Digestive Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30-1 Oyaguchikami-machi, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, 173-8610, Japan
| | - Tokio Higaki
- Department of Digestive Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30-1 Oyaguchikami-machi, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, 173-8610, Japan
| | - Shingo Tsuji
- Genome Science Division, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technologies, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 153-8904, Japan
| | - Hirohiko Sakamoto
- Department of Surgery, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, 362-0806, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Shimada
- Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery Division, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, 104-0054, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Makuuchi
- Division of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery and Transplantation Surgery, Japanese Red Cross Medical Center, Tokyo, 150-8935, Japan
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Jo PC, Jang HJ, Burns PN, Burak KW, Kim TK, Wilson SR. Integration of Contrast-enhanced US into a Multimodality Approach to Imaging of Nodules in a Cirrhotic Liver: How I Do It. Radiology 2017; 282:317-331. [PMID: 28099108 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2016151732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Accurate characterization of cirrhotic nodules and early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are of vital importance. Currently, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging are standard modalities for the investigation of new nodules found at surveillance ultrasonography (US). This article describes the successful integration of contrast material-enhanced US into a multimodality approach for diagnosis of HCC and its benefits in this population. The application of contrast-enhanced US immediately following surveillance US allows for prompt dynamic contrast-enhanced evaluation, removing the need for further imaging of benign lesions. Contrast-enhanced US also provides dynamic real-time assessment of tumor vascularity so that contrast enhancement can be identified regardless of its timing or duration, allowing for detection of arterial hypervascularity and portal venous washout. The purely intravascular nature of US contrast agents is valuable as the rapid washout of nonhepatocyte malignancies is highly contributory to their differentiation from HCC. The authors believe contrast-enhanced US provides complementary information to CT and MR imaging in the characterization of nodules in high-risk patients. © RSNA, 2017 Online supplemental material is available for this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia C Jo
- From the Department of Radiology (P.C.J., S.R.W.) and Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology (K.W.B., S.R.W.), Foothills Medical Centre, University of Calgary, 1403 29 St NW, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 2T9; Department of Medical Imaging, Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont, Canada (H.J.J., T.K.K.); and Department of Imaging Research, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont, Canada (P.N.B.)
| | - Hyun-Jung Jang
- From the Department of Radiology (P.C.J., S.R.W.) and Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology (K.W.B., S.R.W.), Foothills Medical Centre, University of Calgary, 1403 29 St NW, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 2T9; Department of Medical Imaging, Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont, Canada (H.J.J., T.K.K.); and Department of Imaging Research, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont, Canada (P.N.B.)
| | - Peter N Burns
- From the Department of Radiology (P.C.J., S.R.W.) and Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology (K.W.B., S.R.W.), Foothills Medical Centre, University of Calgary, 1403 29 St NW, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 2T9; Department of Medical Imaging, Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont, Canada (H.J.J., T.K.K.); and Department of Imaging Research, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont, Canada (P.N.B.)
| | - Kelly W Burak
- From the Department of Radiology (P.C.J., S.R.W.) and Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology (K.W.B., S.R.W.), Foothills Medical Centre, University of Calgary, 1403 29 St NW, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 2T9; Department of Medical Imaging, Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont, Canada (H.J.J., T.K.K.); and Department of Imaging Research, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont, Canada (P.N.B.)
| | - Tae Kyoung Kim
- From the Department of Radiology (P.C.J., S.R.W.) and Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology (K.W.B., S.R.W.), Foothills Medical Centre, University of Calgary, 1403 29 St NW, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 2T9; Department of Medical Imaging, Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont, Canada (H.J.J., T.K.K.); and Department of Imaging Research, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont, Canada (P.N.B.)
| | - Stephanie R Wilson
- From the Department of Radiology (P.C.J., S.R.W.) and Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology (K.W.B., S.R.W.), Foothills Medical Centre, University of Calgary, 1403 29 St NW, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 2T9; Department of Medical Imaging, Toronto General Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont, Canada (H.J.J., T.K.K.); and Department of Imaging Research, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont, Canada (P.N.B.)
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Motosugi U, Bannas P, Sano K, Reeder SB. Hepatobiliary MR contrast agents in hypovascular hepatocellular carcinoma. J Magn Reson Imaging 2014; 41:251-65. [PMID: 25104398 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.24712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2014] [Accepted: 06/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops via multistep hepatocarcinogenesis, during which hypovascular/early HCC precedes the typical hypervascular HCC. The hypovascular HCC lacks the typical hallmark imaging features of HCC, such as late arterial phase enhancement and portal venous washout, limiting early detection using conventional extracellular contrast agents for dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) imaging. In recent years, gadolinium-based contrast agents with hepatobiliary uptake have garnered interest from radiologists and hepatologists due to their potential for improved detection of HCC during hepatobiliary phase MRI. Lesions with reduced or absent hepatocyte function appear hypointense in the hepatobiliary phase of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI. This behavior can be exploited for earlier detection of hypovascular HCC. This review describes the general characteristics and advantages of gadoxetic acid for the diagnosis of HCC with a particular focus on hypovascular/early HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Utaroh Motosugi
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Department of Radiology, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
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Lee JM, Yoon JH, Joo I, Woo HS. Recent Advances in CT and MR Imaging for Evaluation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Liver Cancer 2012; 1:22-40. [PMID: 24159569 PMCID: PMC3747553 DOI: 10.1159/000339018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Accurate diagnosis and assessment of disease extent are crucial for proper management of patients with HCC. Imaging plays a crucial role in early detection, accurate staging, and the planning of management strategies. A variety of imaging modalities are currently used in evaluating patients with suspected HCC; these include ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, and angiography. Among these modalities, dynamic MRI and CT are regarded as the best imaging techniques available for the noninvasive diagnosis of HCC. Recent improvements in CT and MRI technology have made noninvasive and reliable diagnostic assessment of hepatocellular nodules possible in the cirrhotic liver, and biopsy is frequently not required prior to treatment. Until now, the major challenge for radiologists in imaging cirrhosis has been the characterization of small cirrhotic nodules smaller than 2 cm in diameter. Further technological advancement will undoubtedly have a major impact on liver tumor imaging. The increased speed of data acquisition in CT and MRI has allowed improvements in both spatial and temporal resolution, which have made possible a more precise evaluation of the hemodynamics of liver nodules. Furthermore, the development of new, tissue-specific contrast agents such as gadoxetic acid has improved HCC detection on MRI. In this review, we discuss the role of CT and MRI in the diagnosis and staging of HCC, recent technological advances, and the strengths and limitations of these imaging modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeong-Hee Yoon
- *Jeong Min Lee, MD, Department of Radiology and Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehangno, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-744 (South Korea), Tel. +82 2 2072 3154, E-Mail
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Tsuda N, Matsui O. Cirrhotic rat liver: reference to transporter activity and morphologic changes in bile canaliculi--gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging. Radiology 2010; 256:767-73. [PMID: 20663976 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.10092065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To analyze the difference in signal intensity on gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) images between normal and cirrhotic livers in rats as correlated with the expressions of the transporters of gadoxetic acid and the morphopathologic change in bile canaliculi. MATERIALS AND METHODS Institutional animal review board approval was received prior to the commencement of all studies. Fifteen rats received thioacetamide (TAA) in their drinking water for 12 weeks to induce liver cirrhosis. As a control, 15 rats were given normal water. After 12 weeks, seven rats in the TAA group and seven rats in the control group underwent gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging (0.025 mmol gadolinium per kilogram of body weight). Five rats in each group were used for comparison of transporter (organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1 [oatp1] and multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 [mrp2]) activities. Three rats in each group were used for morphologic examination. The Wilcoxon rank sum test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Signal enhancement of the liver in the TAA group significantly decreased in comparison with that in the control group, although the signal enhancement of the kidney in both groups was almost identical. The oatp1 and mrp2 activities were as follows: 2.17 +/- 0.71 (standard deviation) for oatp1 in the TAA group, 2.58 +/- 0.35 for oatp1 in the control group, 3.37 +/- 1.04 for mrp2 in the TAA group, and 0.93 +/- 0.34 for mrp2 in the control group (P = .175 for oatp1, P = .009 for mrp2). At morphologic examination, enlargement of bile canaliculi and hyperplasia or elongation of microvilli were observed in the TAA group. CONCLUSION Findings showed that liver cirrhosis promotes the elimination of gadoxetic acid mediated by mrp2; therefore, mrp2 up-regulation may explain the significant signal intensity loss noted on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR images in the rat. In addition, the up-regulation of mrp2 may be accompanied by morphologic changes in bile canaliculi and microvilli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natsuko Tsuda
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging Medical Affairs, Bayer Yakuhin, Kita-ku, Osaka, Osaka, Japan.
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11
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Kudo M. Review of 4th Single Topic Conference on HCC. Hepatocellular carcinoma: International consensus and controversies. Hepatol Res 2007; 37 Suppl 2:S83-7. [PMID: 17877501 DOI: 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2007.00167.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Masatoshi Kudo
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka, Japan
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