Delayed enhancement of hepatocellular carcinoma on dynamic CT: sign of extrahepatic collaterals after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization or transcatheter arterial chemoinfusion.
BACKGROUND
We examined the factors of delayed enhancement of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on dynamic computed tomography (CT).


METHODS
Dynamic CT and angiography were compared in 113 patients who had undergone transcatheter arterial chemoembolization or transcatheter arterial chemoinfusion and were suspected of developing new HCCs.


RESULTS
Eight of 113 patients had HCC nodules that enhanced gradually from the arterial phase to the portal venous phase on dynamic CT and were fed by extrahepatic arteries on angiography. The feeding artery was an omental branch of the splenic artery in one lesion, an omental branch of the gastroduodenal artery in five, and the intercostal artery in two.


CONCLUSIONS
We believe that the recurrence of HCCs delayed enhancement on dynamic CT because the hepatic artery was hidden and long narrow extrahepatic collaterals fed the tumor.
Katoh
T
T
Department of Radiology, Sumitomo-Besshi Hospital, 3-1, Ohji, Niihama City, Ehime, 792-8543, Japan.
Mitani
M
M
Noma
K
K
Sunayama
T
T
Nakano
S
S
Toyama
Y
Y
Ohkawa
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002404:Catheterization; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*