Indeterminate small, low-attenuating hepatocellular nodules on helical CT in patients with chronic liver disease: 2-year follow-up.
To evaluate the clinical significance of indeterminate, small, low-attenuating nodular lesions on helical dynamic computed tomography (CT) in chronic liver diseases, CT images were reviewed retrospectively in 281 patients. Indeterminate, low-attenuating nodular lesions less than 20 mm in diameter were followed for 24 to 35 months. Of 127 nodules in 73 patients, 21 nodules turned out to be hepatocellular carcinomas (16%), 25 nodules (20%) became larger, while the remaining 81 nodules (64%) remained unchanged or disappeared. Some low-attenuating nodules larger than 10 mm in diameter may develop into hepatocellular carcinoma.
Seo
Jung Wook
JW
Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Ilwon-dong, Seoul 135-710, Republic of Korea.
Lim
Jae Hoon
JH
Choi
Dongil
D
Jang
Hyun-Jung
HJ
Lee
Won Jae
WJ
Lim
Hyo Keun
HK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007459:Iodized Oil; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed
D003287:Contrast Media; D007459:Iodized Oil