Growth rate of hepatocellular carcinoma: evaluation with serial computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the growth rate of untreated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by calculating tumor volume doubling time (TVDT) on serial computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to predict TVDT based on initial tumor size.


METHODS
Sixteen untreated HCCs in 11 patients with cirrhosis who underwent serial CT or MRI at our institution were retrospectively identified. Two independent readers recorded bidimensional measurements for all tumors, which were used to determine tumor volume (TV). Growth rate was expressed as TVDT. A mathematic model was used to predict TVDT based on baseline tumor size.


RESULTS
Mean baseline and follow-up TVs were 10.5 cm3 (range: 0.7-243.6 cm3) and 22.0 cm3 (range: 2.5-870.8 cm3), respectively. Mean duration of follow-up was 176 days (range: 76-472 days). Mean TVDT was 127 days (95% confidence interval: 80, 203; range: 17.5-541.4 days). Expected TVDT could be expressed as TVDT = 114 x (baseline volume)0.14 (P < 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest a preferred interval follow-up of approximately 4.5 months (127 days) for HCC screening. Small HCCs show a tendency toward faster growth and may require shorter follow-up to demonstrate progression.
Taouli
Bachir
B
Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA. bachir.taouli@med.nyu.edu
Goh
Jeffrey S K
JS
Lu
Ying
Y
Qayyum
Aliya
A
Yeh
Benjamin M
BM
Merriman
Raphael B
RB
Coakley
Fergus V
FV
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed