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Hepatic vein involvement in hepatocellular carcinoma
D Mathieu1, C Guinet, A Bouklia-Hassane
1Department of Radiology, CHU Henri Mondor, Creteil, France.
Gastrointestinal Radiology
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Dynamic CT effectively detects hepatic vein involvement in hepatocellular carcinoma, often associated with portal vein obstruction. Ultrasound has limitations in visualizing these venous structures.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Hepatobiliary Imaging
- Oncology Imaging
Background:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer with significant morbidity.
- Hepatic vein involvement is a critical prognostic factor in HCC.
- Accurate imaging is essential for staging and treatment planning in HCC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of dynamic computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound in assessing hepatic vein involvement in hepatocellular carcinoma.
- To compare the diagnostic performance of dynamic CT and ultrasound for detecting venous obstruction in HCC.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of dynamic CT and ultrasound scans from 134 patients with HCC.
- Emphasis on evaluation of hepatic vein and portal vein involvement.
- Correlation with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in select cases.
Main Results:
- Hepatic vein involvement was identified in 5.9% of patients (8/134).
- Portal vein obstruction was present in 7 of 8 cases with hepatic vein involvement.
- Dynamic CT demonstrated superior sensitivity in depicting venous obstruction compared to ultrasound, identifying characteristic signs like hypodensity, enlargement, perivenous hypervascularization, and hemokinetic changes.
Conclusions:
- Dynamic CT is a valuable tool for detecting hepatic vein involvement and associated portal vein obstruction in HCC.
- Ultrasound has limitations in visualizing hepatic veins and assessing venous involvement in HCC.
- The identified CT signs provide reliable indicators of venous obstruction in HCC patients.