title: Small hepatocellular carcinoma: ultrasonographic findings and histopathologic correlation.
abstract: It is known that small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCCs) were usually hypoechoic at ultrasonography (US). In this study, we analyzed US findings of 42 small HCCs less than 2 cm in diameter and correlated them with histopathologic findings. US parameters were tumor size, tumor echogenecity, and morphologic features (peripheral halo, lateral shadow, posterior enhancement, and mosaic pattern), while histopathologic parameters were Edmonson grade and microscopic features (coagulation necrosis, interstitial fibrosis, fatty metamorphosis, sinusoidal dilatation, hemorrhage, encapsulation, and internal septation). One-third of HCCs was not hypoechoic. Tumor echogenecity and morphologic features were variable, regardless of tumor differentiation and microscopic features. In our study, it seemed that US detected histopathologic changes in small HCCs more frequently than previously known, but none of these US findings could suggest a specific histopathologic finding in small HCCs less than 2 cm in diameter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Ilwon-Dong, Kangnam-Ku, Seoul 135-710, South Korea. ray323@unitel.co.kr
authors.forename: Kyeong Ah
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Won Jae
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyo Keun
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Cheol Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Cheol Keun
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: In Ho
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Hae Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Seol
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography