[Imaging of hepatoma. Review of 50 cases]

The authors present 50 cases of hepatoma involving 32 cirrhotic and 18 healthy livers. Only 6 cases were amenable to exeresis completed by peripheral (4 cases) or intra-arterial (2 cases) chemotherapy. In addition to a semeiological study, the usefulness of various imaging techniques (ultrasound, CT, angiography) is discussed. Ultrasound (50 cases), the basic examination, is often sufficient for diagnosis (28 cases of puncture under ultrasound guidance); in certain cases it suffices to rule out surgery (multiple forms, vascular involvement). CT scans (40 cases) are obtained in different manners depending on whether the aim is to detect a hepatoma not seen on sonograms (as in the case of a high alpha-foetoproteinemia) or to obtain more precise anatomical data for an already discovered lesion. At present, angiography (13 cases) appears reserved for cases in which the other two techniques do not reveal any contraindications for surgery.