title: Growth rate of primary single hepatocellular carcinoma: determining optimal screening interval with contrast enhanced computed tomography.
abstract: To determine the optimal screening interval for detecting small (< 20 mm) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a high-risk group using multiphase contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT), we evaluated the growth rate of primary single HCC. Forty-nine primary single HCC cases were reviewed. CECT screening was performed more than two times preceding to the diagnosis in 29 cases, and HCC nodule was identified at least two times in 22 cases. The initial nodule sizes ranged between 3 and 30 mm. Doubling time of tumor volume ranged from 34.8 to 496.4 days, with a geometric mean of 93.5 days, and a 95% lower threshold value of 27.1 days. It means that HCC will not double in diameter within 3 months. Therefore CECT screening at intervals of 3 months will detect new nodules at 10-20 mm in size and CECT screening at intervals of longer than 3 months will detect new nodules but they might be larger than 20 mm in size.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Nakano General Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Hiroyasu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ina
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Irie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011172:Portography / Q000379:methods; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood; D011516:Prothrombin; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011498:Protein Precursors; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; C008208:acarboxyprothrombin; D011516:Prothrombin