Magnetic resonance imaging appearance of well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
We reviewed the MRI of 32 patients with 33 pathologically confirmed well-differentiated HCC. The MRI protocol included T2-weighted imaging with and without fat saturation, dual-phase T1-weighted imaging, and gadolinium-enhanced dynamic study. The signal intensity of each lesion was categorized as hyperintense, isointense, and hypointense with reference to the surrounding liver parenchyma.


RESULTS
Thirty-one (93.9%) of 33 well-differentiated HCC were demonstrated on the MRI. The remaining 2 were isointense in all magnetic resonance sequences and, therefore, could not be identified. Most of them were hyperintense (n = 15 [45.4%]) or isointense (n = 16 [48.5%]) on T1-weighted imaging, and hyperintense (n = 12 [36.4%]) or isointense (n = 17 [51.5%]) on T2-weighted imaging. On the dynamic study, 17 lesions (51.5%) were enhanced.


CONCLUSIONS
MRI may identify most well-differentiated HCC; however, the imaging appearance is diverse. Biopsy should be performed if magnetic resonance study is inconclusive.
Li
Chao-Shiang
CS
Department of Radiology, Renai Branch, Taipei City Hospital, Taiwan.
Chen
Ran-Chou
RC
Lii
Jiunn-Ming
JM
Chen
Wei-Tsung
WT
Shih
Li-Sun
LS
Zhang
Ting-An
TA
Tu
Hsing-Yang
HY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA