title: Relationship between diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and histological tumor grading of hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intrahepatic and extrahepatic recurrence remains a significant problem for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) for histological tumor grading and preoperative prediction of early HCC recurrence within 6 months of operation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 44 patients who had undergone hepatic resection for HCC (50 nodules) were reviewed retrospectively. DWI was performed within 30 days before hepatectomy, and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were measured using 2 methods: mean ADC and minimum-spot ADC. Relationships between ADCs and histological differentiation and between ADCs and early recurrence of HCC were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean ADC was significantly lower in poorly differentiated HCC (n=18, 1.07±0.15×10(-3) mm2/s) than in moderately differentiated HCC (n=29, 1.29±0.21×10(-3) mm2/s; P<.05). Minimum-spot ADC was significantly lower in poorly differentiated HCC (n=18, 0.69±0.19×10(-3) mm2/s) than in well-differentiated HCC (n=3, 1.15±0.10×10(-3) mm2; P<.01) or in moderately differentiated HCC (n=29, 0.98±0.18×10(-3) mm2/s; P<.0001). Of 34 patients who were able to be observed for >6 months after resection, 9 showed early recurrence. Minimum-spot ADC was significantly lower in patients with early recurrence (n=9, 0.64±0.24×10(-3) mm2/s) than in patients without early recurrence (n=25, 0.88±0.19×10(-3) mm2/s; P<.05). On multivariate analysis, minimum-spot ADC was a significant risk factor for early recurrence (P<.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantitative measurement of ADC of HCC with magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging is a promising functional imaging tool in the prediction of histological grade and early recurrence before treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hematology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan. mnakanishi0825@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chuma
authors.forename: Shuhei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hige
authors.forename: Tokuhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Omatsu
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yokoo
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.forename: Toshiya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamiyama
authors.forename: Kanako
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haga
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuno
authors.forename: Yuya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Onodera
authors.forename: Mototsugu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asaka
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies