title: The evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma with biphasic contrast enhanced helical CT scan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of biphasic contrast-enhanced helical CT including Hepatic Arterial Phase (HAP) imaging with Portal Venous Phase (PVP) imaging, in the detection and characterization of hepatocellular carcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 40 patients (M = 26, F = 14) with histopathologically proven HCC. Age range was between 30-85 years (mean = 55) by following consecutive patients with cirrhosis in whom Hepatocellular carcinoma was diagnosed or suspected either by raised serum a (alpha)-fetoprotein level or Ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biphasic contrast-enhanced examination revealed a total of 85 lesions in these 40 patients, out of which 13 were unifocal, 12 showed a dominant mass with satellite lesions, 2 showed cluster of contiguous nodules and 13 were multifocal HCCs. Mean diameter was 3.1 cm, ranging from 0.8 to 14 cm. On HAP imaging 85% were detected. (hyperattenuating = 69, hypoattenuating = 3) while on PVP imaging detectibility was only 48% (hyperattenuating = 2, hypoattenuating = 39). Hence detectibility was significantly (p = 0.008) superior in HAP as compared to PVP imaging. In 7 patients (17%) tumor was visible only on HAP images. Venous invasion was present in 12 patients (30%) while arterio-portal shunting was seen in 5 patients (13%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biphasic contrast enhanced helical CT is a useful method in detection and characterization of HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yaqoob
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bari
authors.forename: M U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Usman
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Munir
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mosharaf
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Akhtar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media