Diagnostic accuracy of multidetector-row computed tomography for hilar cholangiocarcinoma

The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic reliability of multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) for the evaluation of tumor spread in hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Images obtained from a 16-detector row scanner of 22 patients were interpreted. The diagnostic accuracy of longitudinal ductal spread, vertical invasion (including hepatic parenchyma), and lymph node metastasis was assessed with reference to histopathological findings.

The location of the tumor was correctly diagnosed in 95% of cases (21/22), but in five of these cases, the cut end of the intrahepatic bile duct was positive, resulting in 77% diagnostic accuracy for longitudinal spread. Among the patients with a negative bile duct surgical margin, there was a significant difference in the measurement of tumor spread between MDCT and microscopic investigation (P < 0.001). For vertical invasion, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of MDCT were 69%, 100%, 100%, and 69% for the liver parenchyma, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of MDCT for lymph node metastasis were 50%, 75%, 43%, and 80%, respectively.

The diagnostic accuracy of MDCT for tumor location and vertical invasion was satisfactory, but ductal spread was underestimated in comparison with microscopic measurements.