Hyperintense HCC on hepatobiliary phase images of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI: correlation with clinical and
Ja Young Kim1, Myeong-Jin Kim, Kyung Ah Kim
1Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University Severance Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Purpose:
To retrospectively determine whether the hyperintense hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) seen on the hepatobiliary phase of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MR imaging (EOB-MRI) might have different histologic characteristics from usual hypointense HCCs.
Materials And Methods:
Two hundred three surgically proven HCCs from 192 patients who underwent preoperative EOB-MRI were analyzed. The demographic and histologic characteristics of hyperintense HCCs were compared with usual hypointense HCCs by using the t-test or Fisher's exact test.
Results:
By visual assessment, 18 (8.8%) tumors were classified as hyperintense HCCs. Patients with hyperintense HCC were significantly (p<0.05) older (60.1 vs. 55.2 years) than those with hypointense HCCs. Hyperintense HCCs showed significantly lower rate of microvascular invasion (27.8% vs. 53.5%) and significantly higher rate of peliosis (61.1% vs. 30.8%). Hyperintense HCCs were more frequently expanding type, and none showed infiltrative type or scirrhous histologic pattern.
Conclusions:
Hyperintense HCCs seem to have clinical and histologic features that might be related with more favorable outcomes.
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