Hepatic primary and secondary malignancies: comparison of helical CT and helical CT during arterial portography.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the sensitivity of helical CT to that of helical CT arterial portography in the detection of hepatic primary or secondary malignancies, in 20 patients who subsequently underwent surgery to confirm findings.


METHODS
Twenty patients with suspected primary hepatic or secondary malignancies who all underwent helical CT and helical CT arterial portography preoperatively were prospectively evaluated. All the images were reviewed by two radiologists. The results were subsequently correlated with surgical and pathological findings. The sensitivity and the positive predictive values for lesion detection were determined for each modality.


RESULTS
There were 39 pathologically confirmed hepatic malignant lesions. The overall sensitivity and positive predictive value of helical CT arterial portography were 87.1% and 82.5%, respectively, while of helical CT were 84.6% and 94.2%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Helical CT arterial portography and helical CT of the liver were approximately equivalent for lesion detection in patients who were evaluated preoperatively for resection of liver malignancies. The lower cost and non-invasive nature of helical CT suggest that it should be the preferred modality.
Chatziioannou
Achilles N
AN
Radiology and Surgery Pathology Departments, Medical School of National and Capodistrian University of Athens, Aretaieion Hospital, Athens, Greece. ahatzi@cc.uoa.gr
Metafa
Anna
A
Mourikis
D
D
Katsenis
K
K
Gouliamos
A
A
Smyrniotis
V
V
Koutoulidis
V
V
Prahalias
A
A
Kavatzas
N
N
Vlachos
L
L
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011172:Portography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed