Multi-slice CT angiography by triple-phase enhancement in preoperative evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Triple-phase enhancement of multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) has markedly improved the diagnostic accuracy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and MSCT angiography (MSCTA) has been proved useful in detecting vascular anatomy noninvasively. This study aimed to explore the value of MSCTA by triple-phase enhancement in preoperative evaluation of HCC.


METHODS
Fifty-six consecutive cases of primary HCC scheduled for resection were studied with MSCTA by triple-phase enhancement. The raw data images were processed on a workstation for multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction. The findings after processing of the data were compared with those after surgery or intraoperative sonography.


RESULTS
The false positive rate of MSCTA by triple-phase enhancement was 10.1% and its false negative rate was 4.3% in detecting HCC. No significant difference was observed in MSCTA and surgery or intraoperative sonography in detecting vascular anatomy anomalies and pathologic variations, whereas significant difference was found in detecting bile duct invasion with MSCT compared to intraoperative sonography.


CONCLUSIONS
MSCTA by triple-phase enhancement not only improves the detection of HCC, but also provides valuable preoperative information about hepatic vascular architecture and parenchyma. MSCTA by triple-phase enhancement is worthy of application as a non-invasive method in preoperative evaluation of HCC.
Xiao
Xi-gang
XG
Department of Computer Tomography, First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China. xxgct_417@yahoo.com.cn
Han
Xue
X
Shan
Wei-dong
WD
Li
An-yuan
AY
D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed