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CT- and MRI-based Factors Associated with Rapid Growth in Early-Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma

  • 0From the Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, 88 Olympic-ro 43 gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul 05505, Korea (H.J.J., S.H.C., S.J.C., J.H.B., H.J.W., Y.M.S.); University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea (S.W.); and Liver Imaging Group, Department of Radiology, University of California- San Diego, San Diego, Calif (C.B.S.).
Radiology +

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December 24, 2024

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December 24, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Tumor growth rate in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is crucial. The LR-M category in Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) is linked to rapid HCC growth, impacting clinical management.

Area Of Science

  • Oncology
  • Radiology
  • Medical Imaging

Background

  • Predicting tumor growth rates in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is clinically significant.
  • Previous research has yielded conflicting results and often lacked detailed radiologic assessments.
  • Understanding growth patterns is vital for effective patient management and treatment planning.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To determine the proportion of early-stage HCCs exhibiting rapid growth within each Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) category.
  • To identify prognostic factors associated with rapid tumor growth in HCC.
  • To enhance the accuracy of HCC growth prediction using imaging data.

Main Methods

  • Retrospective analysis of 322 patients with HCC risk factors or surgically confirmed early-stage HCC.
  • Utilized multiphasic CT or MRI examinations (2016-2020) to assign LI-RADS categories and calculate tumor volume doubling time (TVDT).
  • Classified growth as rapid (TVDT < 3 months), intermediate (3-9 months), or indolent (>9 months); employed multivariable logistic regression to identify growth predictors.

Main Results

  • Of 345 HCCs, 27.0% demonstrated rapid growth (median TVDT of 131 days).
  • Rapid growth varied significantly across LI-RADS categories, with 70.0% of LR-M HCCs growing rapidly compared to 28.5% of LR-5 HCCs.
  • Independent predictors of rapid HCC growth included elevated alpha-fetoprotein (>400 ng/mL), baseline tumor diameter, and the LR-M category.

Conclusions

  • The LR-M category is a significant independent predictor of rapid growth in early-stage HCC, observed in 70% of these cases.
  • Radiologic assessment within the LI-RADS framework is essential for predicting HCC growth dynamics.
  • Findings support refined risk stratification and personalized treatment strategies for HCC based on imaging characteristics.