Kim T, Murakami T, Takahashi S, Tsuda K, Tomoda K, Narumi Y, Oi H, Sakon M, Nakamura H. Optimal phases of dynamic CT for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma: evaluation of unenhanced and triple-phase images.
ABDOMINAL IMAGING 1999;
24:473-80. [PMID:
10475931 DOI:
10.1007/s002619900543]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
To determine the optimal phases of dynamic computed tomography (CT) for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
METHODS
Fifty-two patients with 85 HCC nodules were examined by means of unenhanced and triple-phase CT images of the whole liver. The time for obtaining the arterial-phase images was 25-55 s after intravenous bolus injection of contrast material, the time for obtaining the portal venous-phase images was 65-100 s, and the time for obtaining late-phase images was 145 s to 4 min. Detectability of the HCC nodules for all phases was statistically compared.
RESULTS
The detection rates for the arterial- and late-phase images were significantly higher than for the unenhanced and portal venous-phase images (p < 0.01). The combination of arterial- and late-phase images showed the same number of HCC nodules in the same number of patients as did the combination of unenhanced and triple-phase images.
CONCLUSION
The combination of the arterial- and late-phase imagings was best for detecting HCC nodules.
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