Characteristics of Hypovascular versus Hypervascular Well-Differentiated Hepatocellular Carcinoma Smaller Than 2 cm - Focus on Tumor Size, Markers and Imaging Detectability.
OBJECTIVE
The characteristics of hypovascular and hypervascular well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) were compared in terms of tumor size, tumor markers and detectability by imaging modalities.


METHODS
Well-differentiated HCC nodules that are smaller than 2 cm (n = 27) were evaluated in 27 patients using histopathology and divided into 2 groups: hypovascular (n = 10) and hypervascular (n = 17). The diagnostic sensitivity of imaging modalities was then evaluated for efficiency in disclosing tumor size and tumor markers in the 2 types.


RESULTS
No difference was observed in tumor size and tumor markers between the 2 types; however, the sensitivity of contrast-enhanced CT, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and arterioportal angiography was significantly different between the 2 types, whereas that by Gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI) demonstrated no difference.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypovascular HCC could be diagnosed by Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI in the hepatobiliary phase.
Department of Pharmacy, Kobe Asahi Hospital, Kobe, Japan.
Kayo
K
Sugimoto
Soo Ryang
SR
Kim
Susumu
S
Imoto
Madoka
M
Tohyama
Soo Ki
SK
Kim
Toshiyuki
T
Matsuoka
Yoshihiko
Y
Yano
Masatoshi
M
Kudo
Yoshitake
Y
Hayashi
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood; D011516:Prothrombin; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003287:Contrast Media; D011498:Protein Precursors; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; C073590:gadolinium ethoxybenzyl DTPA; C008208:acarboxyprothrombin; D011516:Prothrombin; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA