Detection of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma: comparison of SPIO-enhanced MRI with dynamic helical CT.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic performance of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-enhanced MRI for the detection of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with dynamic helical CT.


METHODS
SPIO-enhanced MR and dynamic helical CT images obtained from 41 patients with 52 hypervascular HCCs (5-130 mm; mean, 27 mm) were retrospectively analyzed. MRI were obtained with 1.5 T scanners using T2-weighted and proton density-weighted spin-echo (or fast spin-echo) sequences for all cases and a T2*-weighted gradient echo sequence for 36 cases. Four blinded observers reviewed images independently. Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated using alternative-free response receiver operating characteristic (AFROC) method. Sensitivities and positive predictive values (PPV) were also evaluated.


RESULTS
The areas under the AFROC curves for each observer were greater for MR than for CT (means, 0.81 and 0.76; p < 0.05). The mean sensitivities for MR and CT were 0.75 and 0.71, respectively (p = 0.13). The mean PPVs were 0.83 and 0.79 (p = 0.21).


CONCLUSIONS
SPIO-enhanced MRI showed slightly better diagnostic performance than dynamic helical CT for the detection of hypervascular HCCs.
Hori
Masatoshi
M
Department of Radiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, D1, 2-2, Yamadaoka, Suita-city, Osaka 565-0871, Japan. mhori@radiol.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Murakami
Takamichi
T
Kim
Tonsok
T
Tsuda
Kyo
K
Takahashi
Satoru
S
Okada
Atsuya
A
Takamura
Manabu
M
Nakamura
Hironobu
H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012372:ROC Curve; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*