title: Relationship between pattern of tumor enhancement and clinicopathologic characteristics in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Common enhancement pattern of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) on computed tomography (CT) is that of hypovascular enhancement; however, in some cases, tumor shows identical enhancement in the arterial phase to that in hepatocellular carcinoma. To identify the specific characteristics of different enhancement patterns, we examined the relationship between CT enhancement pattern and clinicopathological features or postoperative prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects were 43 consecutive ICC patients who had undergone hepatectomy. Enhancement patterns were divided into two types: hypovascular or delayed enhancement (Type A), and early enhancement in the arterial phase (Type B).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Type A enhancement was observed in 23 patients and Type B in 20. Accompanying chronic viral hepatitis was significantly more frequent in Type B than Type A. Well-differentiated adenocarcinoma was significantly more frequent in Type B than Type A. Multiple tumors were significantly more frequent in Type A than Type B. Japanese TNM stage I and II was more frequent in patients with Type B than those with Type A. Disease-free or overall survival was significantly better in patients with Type B than those with Type A.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early enhancement in the arterial phase might be a useful indicator of lower malignant potential and better survival in ICC patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan. a-nanasm@net.nagasaki-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nanashima
authors.forename: Yorihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sumida
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abo
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oikawa
authors.forename: Goshi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takeshita
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fukuoka
authors.forename: Shigekazu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hidaka
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagayasu
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Terumitsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sawai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007472:Iohexol; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol