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Updated: Oct 11, 2025
Novel In Vivo Micro-Computed Tomography Imaging Techniques for Assessing the Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Published on: March 24, 2023
Quantification of contrast agent uptake in the hepatobiliary phase helps to differentiate hepatocellular carcinoma
Michael Haimerl1, Kirsten Utpatel2, Andrea Götz1
1Department of Radiology, University Hospital Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Germany.
Insights
Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI with T1 relaxometry can differentiate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) grades. This technique measures T1 relaxation time and reduction rate in the hepatobiliary phase, correlating with tumor differentiation.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Oncology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) grading is crucial for treatment decisions.
- Accurate differentiation of HCC tumor grades remains a clinical challenge.
- Gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) enhanced MRI offers insights into liver function and tissue characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI with T1 relaxometry in differentiating HCC grades.
- To correlate T1 relaxation times and reduction rates with histopathological tumor differentiation (G1, G2, G3).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 33 solitary HCC lesions.
- Preoperative Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI with T1 mapping.
- Measurement of T1 relaxation time and reduction rate in native and hepatobiliary phases (HBP).
- Correlation of MRI findings with post-resection histopathology.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in native T1 maps between HCC grades.
- Significant difference in HBP T1 relaxation time between well-differentiated (G1) and moderately/poorly differentiated (G2/G3) HCCs (p ≤ 0.001).
- Significantly higher T1 reduction rate in well-differentiated HCCs compared to G2/G3 HCCs (p = 0.006).
Conclusions:
- Gd-EOB-DTPA uptake in HCC correlates with tumor grade.
- T1 relaxometry in the HBP is a promising tool for differentiating HCC grades.
- This MRI technique can aid in non-invasive assessment of HCC differentiation.
Abstract:
This study aimed to assess the degree of differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using Gd-EOB-DTPA-assisted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with T1 relaxometry. Thirty-three solitary HCC lesions were included in this retrospective study. This study's inclusion criteria were preoperative Gd-EOB-DTPA-assisted MRI of the liver and a histopathological evaluation after hepatic tumor resection. T1 maps of the liver were evaluated to determine the T1 relaxation time and reduction rate between the native phase and hepatobiliary phase (HBP) in liver lesions. These findings were correlated with the histopathologically determined degree of HCC differentiation (G1, well-differentiated; G2, moderately differentiated; G3, poorly differentiated). There was no significant difference between well-differentiated (950.2 ± 140.2 ms) and moderately/poorly differentiated (1009.4 ± 202.0 ms) HCCs in the native T1 maps. After contrast medium administration, a significant difference (p ≤ 0.001) in the mean T1 relaxation time in the HBP was found between well-differentiated (555.4 ± 140.2 ms) and moderately/poorly differentiated (750.9 ± 146.4 ms) HCCs. For well-differentiated HCCs, the reduction rate in the T1 time was significantly higher at 0.40 ± 0.15 than for moderately/poorly differentiated HCCs (0.25 ± 0.07; p = 0.006). In conclusion this study suggests that the uptake of Gd-EOB-DTPA in HCCs is correlated with tumor grade. Thus, Gd-EOB-DTPA-assisted T1 relaxometry can help to further differentiation of HCC.
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