scholarly journals Diagnostic Challenges in Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Case Reports and Review of the Literature

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Monika Pazgan-Simon ◽  
Sylwia Serafinska ◽  
Justyna Janocha-Litwin ◽  
Krzysztof Simon ◽  
Jolanta Zuwala-Jagiello
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Diagnostic Process ◽  
Arterial Phase ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Contrast Enhanced ◽  
Diagnostic Standards ◽  
Venous Phase

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth most common malignancy and the third leading mortality cause worldwide. It typically develops secondarily to liver cirrhosis, due to hepatitis B or C infection, alcohol abuse, metabolic disease, and so forth. According to the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) guidelines, which constitute diagnostic standards, the diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) should be based on contrast-enhanced imaging. Lesion hyperenhancement should be observed throughout the arterial phase, followed by the washout during the venous phase. The diagnosis can also be based on the histopathological evaluation of liver biopsy specimen. Although the standards are clear, we often see patients with advanced HCC in clinical practice, who cannot be offered any effective treatment. Patients with chronic liver disease, presenting with inconclusive and changeable test results, constitute a separate problem. In such cases the diagnostic process is typically long-term and delayed. In this paper we present three case reports where the diagnosis could not be made promptly and the patients died as a result of a delayed diagnostic process.

scholarly journals Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound to Monitor Early Recurrence of Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Curative Treatment

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lian-Feng Liu ◽  
Zhan-Ling Ding ◽  
Jian-Hong Zhong ◽  
Hong-Xue Li ◽  
Jun-Jie Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Recurrent Disease ◽  
Intrahepatic Recurrence ◽  
Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Curative Treatment ◽  
Arterial Phase ◽  
Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound ◽  
Enhancement Pattern ◽  
Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Contrast Enhanced

Objective. To evaluate contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for monitoring early intrahepatic recurrence of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative treatment. Methods. We prospectively analyzed 97 patients (124 nodules) with primary HCC who underwent hepatic resection or radiofrequency ablation and subsequently experienced intrahepatic recurrence. Patients were assessed with conventional ultrasound and CEUS. They were also assessed with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The image characteristics of CEUS of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma and high-grade dysplastic nodules (HGDNs) were analyzed. In addition, the ability of CEUS and CECT/MRI to assess internal artery vascularization in recurrent disease was compared. Results. CEUS of recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma showed hyperenhancement in the arterial phase in 96 of 99 nodules, and it showed hypo- or isoenhancement for portal venous and delayed phases. The most common enhancement patterns were “fast-in and slow-out” and “fast-in and fast-out”. Based on the arterial hyperenhancement of lesions and with clinical data such as patient history of HCC and increased level of serum alpha-fetoprotein, the diagnostic accuracy of CEUS for recurrent HCC was significantly higher than that based on the enhancement pattern of “fast-in and fast-out”. CEUS of HGDNs showed local or global hyperenhancement during the arterial phase, isoenhancement during the portal venous phase, and isoenhancement or slight hypoenhancement during the delayed phase. The enhancement pattern was “fast-in and slow-out”. In some cases, it was difficult to differentiate HGDNs from recurrent disease using CEUS. Vascularization in recurrent disease was significantly higher when assessed by CEUS than when assessed with CECT/MRI (P < 0.05). For detecting recurrent disease, CEUS showed sensitivity of 97.0%, specificity of 68.0%, positive predictive value of 92.3%, and negative predictive value of 85.0%. The corresponding parameters for CECT/MRI were 71.7%, 72.0%, 88.8%, and 39.1%. Conclusion. Intrahepatic recurrent HCC and HGDNs with diameter ≤ 3.0 cm have a characteristic appearance on CEUS. This imaging modality may be effective for monitoring early intrahepatic recurrence after curative treatment of primary HCC.

scholarly journals Size measurements of hepatocellular carcinoma: comparisons between contrast and two-dimensional ultrasound

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Chen ◽  
Fei Wang ◽  
Mei Zhu ◽  
Si Sun ◽  
Zheng Liu
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Late Phase ◽  
Size Difference ◽  
Arterial Phase ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Contrast Enhanced ◽  
2D Imaging ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Longitudinal Diameter

Abstract Background Ultrasound (US) imaging is known to underestimate tumor size in clinical. This study is aimed to compare the size measurements of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in three US imaging modalities, i.e. two-dimensional (2D) imaging, the arterial phase (AP) and the late phase (LP) imaging of contrast-enhanced US (CEUS). Methods Fifty-eight clinically proved HCC patients were included. The 2D and CEUS imaging were performed with Siemens S2000, Philips iu22 and BioSound Twice. 2.5 mL of SonoVue® was injected for every CEUS performance. Two physicians measured the maximal longitudinal and the transverse diameters of the tumors in 2D, the AP and the LP of CEUS from one image section. The three measurements were compared by paired t test. Results The mean longitudinal diameter of HCC appeared to be maximal in the AP (4.73 ± 2.04 cm) of CEUS and minimal in the LP (3.98 ± 1.99 cm) of CEUS. The 2D diameter (4.26 ± 2.07 cm) was in the middle between two CEUS measurements. There were significant differences between any two measurements. Conclusion There is size difference between the three kinds of HCC measurement. It appeared to be maximal in the AP of CEUS and minimal in the LP. The 2D diameter was in the middle.

scholarly journals Size measurements of hepatocellular carcinoma: comparisons between contrast and two-dimensional ultrasound

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Chen ◽  
Fei Wang ◽  
Si Sun ◽  
Mei Zhu ◽  
Zheng Liu
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Late Phase ◽  
Size Difference ◽  
Arterial Phase ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Contrast Enhanced ◽  
2D Imaging ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Longitudinal Diameter

Abstract Background Ultrasound (US) imaging is known to underestimate tumor size in clinical. This study is aimed to compare the size measurements of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in three US imaging modalities, i.e. two-dimensional (2D) imaging, the arterial phase (AP) and the late phase (LP) imaging of contrast-enhanced US (CEUS). Methods Fifty-eight clinically proved HCC patients were included. The 2D and CEUS imaging were performed with Siemens S2000, Philips iu22 and BioSound Twice. 2.5 mL of SonoVue® was injected for every CEUS performance. Two physicians measured the maximal longitudinal and the transverse diameters of the tumors in 2D, the AP and the LP of CEUS from one image section. The three measurements were compared by paired t test. Results The mean longitudinal diameter of HCC appeared to be maximal in the AP (4.73±2.04 cm) of CEUS and minimal in the LP (3.98±1.99 cm) of CEUS. The 2D diameter (4.26±2.07 cm) was in the middle between two CEUS measurements. There were significant differences between any two measurements. Conclusion There is size difference between the three kinds of HCC measurement. It appeared to be maximal in the AP of CEUS and minimal in the LP. The 2D diameter was in the middle.

Differentiation between hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma using contrast-enhanced ultrasound: A systematic review and meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Yanling Chen ◽  
Wenping Wang
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Publication Bias ◽  
Likelihood Ratio ◽  
Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Arterial Phase ◽  
Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound ◽  
Diagnostic Ability ◽  
Contrast Enhanced

AIM: To explore the diagnostic ability of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in distinguishing intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were systematically searched for studies reporting the diagnostic accuracy of CEUS in differentiating ICC from HCC. The diagnostic ability of CEUS was assessed based on the pooled sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR) and area under the curve (AUC) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The methodologic quality was assessed by the QUADAS-2 tool. Subgroup analyses, meta-regression and investigation of publication bias were performed to identify the source of heterogeneity. RESULTS: A total of eight studies were included, consisting of 1,116 patients with HCC and 529 with ICC. The general diagnostic performance of CEUS in distinguishing ICC and HCC were as follows: pooled sensitivity, 0.92 (95% CI: 0.84–0.96); pooled specificity, 0.87 (95% CI: 0.79–0.92); pooled PLR, 7.1 (95% CI: 4.1–12.0); pooled NLR, 0.09 (95% CI: 0.05–0.19); pooled DOR, 76 (95% CI: 26–220) and AUC, 0.95(95% CI: 0.93–0.97). Different liver background may be a potential factor that influenced the diagnostic accuracy of CEUS according to the subgroup analysis, with the pooled DOR of 89.67 in the mixed liver background group and 46.87 in the cirrhosis group, respectively. Six informative CEUS features that may help differentiate HCC from ICC were extracted. The three CEUS features favoring HCC were arterial phase hyperenhancement(APHE), mild washout and late washout (>60s); the three CEUS favoring ICC were arterial rim enhancement, marked washout and early washout(<60s). No potential publication bias was observed. CONCLUSION: CEUS showed great diagnostic ability in differentiating ICC from HCC, which may be promising for noninvasive evaluation of these diseases.

scholarly journals Hepatic Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma Presenting Synchronously with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

2021 ◽  
pp. 344-351
Author(s):  
Hiroki Kanno ◽  
Toshihiro Sato ◽  
Ryuta Midorikawa ◽  
Satoki Kojima ◽  
Shogo Fukutomi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Carbohydrate Antigen ◽  
Epithelioid Hemangioendothelioma ◽  
Arterial Phase ◽  
Rapid Progression ◽  
Imaging Findings ◽  
Liver Segment ◽  
Contrast Enhanced ◽  
Well Differentiated ◽  
Enhanced Computed Tomography

Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare malignant tumor with unknown pathogenesis. Herein, we report a case of a hepatic EHE presenting synchronously with a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To the best of our knowledge, this is the second case report of synchronous hepatic EHE and HCC. An 84-year-old man presented with back pain. During examination, a tumor in liver segment 3 was coincidentally detected. Tumor marker (carbohydrate antigen 19-9, alpha-fetoprotein, and protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II) levels were elevated. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed perinodular enhancement in the arterial and portal phases. Another tumor was detected in liver segment 2, which was homogeneously enhanced in the arterial phase, followed by washout in the portal and late phases. Based on these imaging findings, we diagnosed the tumor in segment 3 as a solitary cholangiocellular carcinoma and the tumor in segment 2 as a solitary HCC. Lateral sectionectomy of the liver was performed. Microscopically, spindle-shaped and epithelioid cells were present in the tumor in segment 3. On immunohistochemistry, the tumor cells were positive for CD31 and CD34, focally positive for D2-40, and negative for AE1/AE3. Therefore, the tumor in segment 3 was ultimately diagnosed as an EHE and the tumor in segment 2 as a well-differentiated HCC. Preoperative diagnosis of EHE is difficult owing to the lack of specific findings. Intratumoral calcification, halo sign, and lollipop sign are occasionally found in EHE and are useful imaging findings for diagnosis. Clinical behavior is unpredictable, ranging from indolent growth to rapid progression. Clinical or pathological predictors of the course of EHE are urgently required.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound–based ultrasomics score: a potential biomarker for predicting early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after resection or ablation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Huang ◽  
Si-min Ruan ◽  
Meng-fei Xian ◽  
Ming-de Li ◽  
Mei-qing Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Risk Group ◽  
Early Recurrence ◽  
High Risk Group ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound ◽  
Combined Model ◽  
Contrast Enhanced

Objectives: This study aimed to construct a prediction model based on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) ultrasomics features and investigate its efficacy in predicting early recurrence (ER) of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after resection or ablation. Methods: This study retrospectively included 215 patients with primary HCC, who were divided into a developmental cohort (n = 139) and a test cohort (n = 76). Four representative images—grayscale ultrasound, arterial phase, portal venous phase and delayed phase —were extracted from each CEUS video. Ultrasomics features were extracted from tumoral and peritumoral area inside the region of interest. Logistic-regression was used to establish models, including a tumoral model, a peritumoral model and a combined model with additional clinical risk factors. The performance of the three models in predicting recurrence within 2 years was verified. Results: The combined model performed best in predicting recurrence within 2 years, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.845, while the tumoral model had an AUC of 0.810 and the peritumoral model one of 0.808. For prediction of recurrence-free survival, the 2 year cumulative recurrence rate was significant higher in the high-risk group (76.5%) than in the low-risk group (9.5%; p < 0.0001). Conclusion: These CEUS ultrasomics models, especially the combined model, had good efficacy in predicting early recurrence of HCC. The combined model has potential for individual survival assessment for HCC patients undergoing resection or ablation. Advances in knowledge: CEUS ultrasomics had high sensitivity, specificity and PPV in diagnosing early recurrence of HCC, and high efficacy in predicting early recurrence of HCC (AUC > 0.8). The combined model performed better than the tumoral ultrasomics model and peritumoral ultrasomics model in predicting recurrence within 2 years. Recurrence was more likely to occur in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group, with 2-year cumulative recurrence rates respectively 76.5% and 9.5% (p < 0.0001).

scholarly journals Noninvasive Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma on Sonazoid-Enhanced US: Value of the Kupffer Phase

Diagnostics ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 141
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Takahashi ◽  
Katsutoshi Sugimoto ◽  
Naohisa Kamiyama ◽  
Kentaro Sakamaki ◽  
Tatsuya Kakegawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽  
Diagnostic Performance ◽  
Late Phase ◽  
Imaging Feature ◽  
Arterial Phase ◽  
Liver Imaging ◽  
Noninvasive Diagnosis ◽  
Contrast Enhanced ◽  
Treatment Naïve ◽  
Hepatic Lesions

The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of Contrast-Enhanced US Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (CEUS LI-RADS) version 2017, which includes portal- and late-phase washout as a major imaging feature, with that of modified CEUS LI-RADS, which includes Kupffer-phase findings as a major imaging feature. Participants at risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with treatment-naïve hepatic lesions (≥1 cm) were recruited and underwent Sonazoid-enhanced US. Arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE), washout time, and echogenicity in the Kupffer phase were evaluated using both criteria. The diagnostic performance of both criteria was analyzed using the McNemar test. The evaluation was performed on 102 participants with 102 lesions (HCCs (n = 52), non-HCC malignancies (n = 36), and benign (n = 14)). Among 52 HCCs, non-rim APHE was observed in 92.3% (48 of 52). By 5 min, 73.1% (38 of 52) of HCCs showed mild washout, while by 10 min or in the Kupffer phase, 90.4% (47 of 52) of HCCs showed hypoenhancement. The sensitivity (67.3%; 35 of 52; 95% CI: 52.9%, 79.7%) of modified CEUS LI-RADS criteria was higher than that of CEUS LI-RADS criteria (51.9%; 27 of 52; 95% CI: 37.6%, 66.0%) (p = 0.0047). In conclusion, non-rim APHE with hypoenhancement in the Kupffer phase on Sonazoid-enhanced US is a feasible criterion for diagnosing HCC.

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