Imaging of Hepatobiliary Cancer

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary imaging and oncology.

Background:

• Primary and secondary malignancies frequently affect the liver and biliary tree.
• Accurate imaging is crucial for characterizing these hepatobiliary malignancies.

Approach:

• This review examines imaging findings of common and less common hepatobiliary tumors.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) followed by Computed Tomography (CT) are the primary diagnostic tools.
• Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI phases are critical for diagnosis.

Key Points:

• The Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) classification aids in reporting lesions in high-risk patients.
• Liver-specific MRI contrast agents and diffusion-weighted imaging enhance metastasis detection.
• Hepatocellular carcinoma can often be diagnosed noninvasively.

Conclusions:

• While hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis is frequently noninvasive, other primary hepatobiliary tumors may necessitate biopsy for definitive diagnosis.
• Understanding imaging findings is key for accurate diagnosis and management of hepatobiliary tumors.