title: Differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma from its various mimickers in liver magnetic resonance imaging: What are the tips when using hepatocyte-specific agents?
abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary hepatic malignant tumor. With widespread use of liver imaging, various cirrhosis-related nodules are frequently detected in patients with chronic liver disease, while diverse hypervascular hepatic lesions are incidentally detected but undiagnosed on dynamic computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, use of hepatocyte-specific MR contrast agents with combined perfusion and hepatocyte-selective properties have improved diagnostic performance in detection and characterization of focal liver lesions. Meanwhile, the enhancement patterns observed during dynamic phases using hepatocyte-specific agents may be different from those observed during MRI using conventional extracellular fluid agents, leading to confusion in diagnosis. Therefore, we discuss useful tips for the differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma from similar lesions in patients with and without chronic liver disease using liver MRI with hepatocyte-specific agents.
authors.affiliation: Yang Shin Park, Chang Hee Lee, Jeong Woo Kim, Cheol Min Park, Department of Radiology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 152-703, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yang Shin
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Yang Shin Park, Chang Hee Lee, Jeong Woo Kim, Cheol Min Park, Department of Radiology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 152-703, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Hee
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Yang Shin Park, Chang Hee Lee, Jeong Woo Kim, Cheol Min Park, Department of Radiology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 152-703, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Yang Shin Park, Chang Hee Lee, Jeong Woo Kim, Cheol Min Park, Department of Radiology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 152-703, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sora
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Yang Shin Park, Chang Hee Lee, Jeong Woo Kim, Cheol Min Park, Department of Radiology, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 152-703, South Korea.
authors.forename: Cheol Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D018248:Adenoma, Liver Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018207:Angiomyolipoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D020518:Focal Nodular Hyperplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; C073590:gadolinium ethoxybenzyl DTPA; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA
keywords: Gadoxetic acid; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver cirrhosis; Magnetic resonance imaging