Detection of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma: Comparison of multi-detector CT with digital subtraction angiography and Lipiodol CT

摘要

AIM: The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of biphasic multi-detector row helical computed tomography (MDCT), digital subtraction angiography (DSA)and Lipiodol computed tomography (CT) in detection of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with nodular HCC underwent biphasic MDCT examination: hepatic arterial phase (HAP) 25 s and portal venous phase (PVP) 70 s after injection of the contrast medium (1.5 mL/kg). They also underwent hepatic angiography and intra-arterial infusion of iodized oil. Lipiodol CT was performed 3-4 wk after infusion. MDCT images were compared with DSA and Lipiodol CT images for detection of hepatic nodules.RESULTS: The three imaging techniques had the same sensitivity in detecting nodules ＞20 mm in diameter. There was no significant difference in the sensitivity among HAP-MDCT, Lipiodol CT and DSA for nodules of 10-20 mm in diameter. For the nodules ＜10 mm in diameter, HAP-MDCT identified 47, Lipiodol CT detected 27 (X2= 11.3, P= 0.005＜0.01, HAP-MDCT vs Lipiodol CT) and DSA detected 16(X2= 9.09, P= 0.005＜0.01 vs Lipiodol CT and X2= 29.03,P = 0.005＜0.01 vs HAP-MDCT). However, six nodules ＜10 mm in diameter were detected only by Lipiodol CT.CONCLUSION: MDCT and Lipiodol CT are two complementary modalities. At present, MDCT does not obviate the need for DSA and subsequent Lipiodol CT as a preoperative examination for HCC.