Abstract
Objective
The objective was to identify the decision-making magnetic resonance (MR) features
in differentiating small intrahepatic mass-forming cholangiocarcinoma (sIMCC) from
atypical small hepatocellular carcinoma (sHCC) (≤3 cm) in patients with cirrhosis and chronic viral hepatitis.
Methods
Signal features and relative contrast of sHCCs and sIMCCs in T2-weighted and dynamic
enhanced imaging were analyzed. A subgroup comparison between the cirrhosis and noncirrhosis
chronic viral hepatitis group was also made.
Results
Univariate analysis revealed that tumor contours (P<.001), signals in T2-weighted (P<.001) and each phase of contrast-enhanced scanning (P<.001), enhancement patterns (P<.001), as well as accompanying findings of tumor capsule (P<.001), hepatic capsule retraction (P<.001), bile duct dilation (P=.031), and transient hepatic intensity difference (P=.002) were different between sIMCC and atypical sHCC. Multivariate analysis indicated
that dynamic enhancement patterns (P<.001) and signals in T2-weighted images (P=.024) were independent predictors for differentiation. Confusing MR features were
more often observed in the cirrhosis group compared with those in the noncirrhosis
chronic viral hepatitis group.
Conclusion
Dynamic enhancement patterns and signals in T2-weighted images were the most important
MR features to differentiate sIMCC from atypical sHCC with cirrhosis and chronic viral
hepatitis.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 15, 2014
Accepted:
December 31,
2013
Received in revised form:
December 24,
2013
Received:
September 16,
2013
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
