Multi-phase helical CT in diagnosis of early hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the characteristics of early hepatocellular carcinoma by using multi-phase helical CT and assess the value of this method.


METHODS
Multi-phase helical CT findings were reviewed double-blindly by radiologists.


RESULTS
Altogether 24 lesions were found in 21 patients. In plain CT, the lesions were seen as hypodense or isodense areas. After contrast enhancement, 87.5% of the lesions showed regular or irregular hyperdense enhancement, whereas 12.5% demonstrated tumor vessels in arterial phase, which became hypodensed or isodensed nodules in portal phase or the hypodensed in delayed phase. The prevalence of density changes showed a hypo-hyper-hypo and hypo-hypo pattern.


CONCLUSIONS
Multi-phase helical CT could reflect the blood supply of early hepatocelluar carcinoma, and is also convenient for the differential diagnosis of hepatic cavernous angioma, metastatic tumor, hepatic nodulous hyperplasia, and hepatic inflammatory granuloma.
Liu
Wen-Ya
WY
CT Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China. wenyaliu@21cn.com
Jin
Yong
Y
Rong
Run-Huan
RH
Ta
Xi
X
Zhu
Xin-Sheng
XS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*