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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 28, 2007; 13(8): 1252-1256
Published online Feb 28, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i8.1252
Detection of small hepatocellular carcinoma: Comparison of dynamic enhancement magnetic resonance imaging and multiphase multirow-detector helical CT scanning
Hong Zhao, Jin-Lin Yao, Ying Wang, Kang-Rong Zhou
Hong Zhao, Ying Wang, Department of Radiology, Affiliated Fifth Hospital, Zhongshan University, Zhuhai 519000, Guangdong Province, China
Jin-Lin Yao, Department of Surgery, Affiliated Fifth Hospital, Zhongshan University, Zhuhai 519000, Guangdong Province, China
Kang-Rong Zhou, Department of Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by a financial assistance from Zhuhai Technology Bureau, No. PC20052025
Correspondence to: Zhao Hong, Department of Radiology, Affiliated Fifth Hospital, Zhongshan University, Zhuhai 519000, Guangdong Province, China. zhaohongmd@sina.com
Telephone: +86-756-13924705561
Received: December 7, 2006
Revised: December 19, 2006
Accepted: January 23, 2007
Published online: February 28, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To compare the gadolinium-enhanced multiphase dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and multiphase multirow-detector helical CT (MDCT) scanning for detection of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS: MDCT scanning and baseline MRI with SE T1-WI and T2-WI sequence combined with FMPSPGR sequence were performed in 37 patients with 43 small HCCs. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to analyze the results for modality.

RESULTS: The areas below ROC curve (Az) were calculated. There was no statistical difference in dynamic enhancement MDCT and MRI. The detection rate of small HCC was 97.5%-97.6% on multiphase MDCT scanning and 90.7%-94.7% on MRI, respectively. The sensitivity of detection for small HCC on MDCT scanning was higher than that on dynamic enhancement MRI. The sensitivity of detection for minute HCC (tumor diameter ≤ 1 cm) was 90.0%-95.0% on MDCT scanning and 70.0%-85.0% on MRI, respectively.

CONCLUSION: MDCT scanning should be performed for early detection and effective treatment of small HCC in patients with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis during follow-up.

Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma, X-ray computed tomography, Magnetic resonance imaging