Differentiation of small arterial enhancing hepatocellular carcinoma from non-tumorous arterioportal shunt with an emphasis on the precontrast CT scan.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the value of precontrast phase (PP) of quadriphasic CT for differentiation of small arterial enhancing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from non-tumorous arterioportal (AP) shunt in patients with chronic liver disease.


METHODS
Forty-eight patients with 28 HCCs and 28 AP shunts were enrolled. All lesions (5-20 mm) showed arterial hyperenhancement with isoattenuation on portal venous phase or delayed phase without typical features of AP shunt. We evaluated and analyzed the attenuation of the lesions with qualitative and quantitative methods in each phase. The size, location, shape, margin, and coexistent HCC were evaluated. Diagnostic performances were also compared with triphasic CT and quadriphasic CT including PP in prediction of AP shunts from HCCs.


RESULTS
The round or oval shape and visually low attenuation on PP were independent predictors for differentiating HCCs from AP shunts in multivariate analysis. Our study also revealed significantly increased diagnostic performances for both observers when PP was added to the triphasic CT.


CONCLUSIONS
PP can be helpful in differentiation of small arterial enhancing HCCs from AP shunts. Careful evaluation of PP may lower need for follow-up CT or MRI, and can possibly achieve earlier diagnosis of small HCCs.
Department of Radiology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, 102 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 156-755, Korea.
Bo Mi
BM
Chung
Department of Radiology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, 102 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 156-755, Korea. seolly1024@gmail.com.
Hyun Jeong
HJ
Park
Department of Radiology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, 102 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 156-755, Korea.
Sung Bin
SB
Park
Department of Radiology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, 102 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 156-755, Korea.
Jong Beum
JB
Lee
Department of Radiology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, 102 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 156-755, Korea.
Hye Shin
HS
Ahn
Department of Radiology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, 102 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 156-755, Korea.
Yang Soo
YS
Kim
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007472:Iohexol; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol
Arterioportal shunt; Chronic liver disease; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Precontrast phase