Prognostic Significance of Intraindividual CT and MRI LI-RADS Agreement and Discordance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Purpose To assess the intraindividual concordance and discordance in Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) categorizations between CT and MRI for surgically resected hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to evaluate their association with early postsurgical recurrence. Materials and Methods This dual-center retrospective study included patients who underwent both CT and MRI before hepatic resection for HCC between January 2016 and December 2020. For each HCC lesion, the LI-RADS category was independently assigned at CT and MRI. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to evaluate the associations between the CT and MRI LI-RADS categorizations (LI-RADS category M [LR-M] vs LI-RADS category 4 or 5 [LR-4/5]) and 2-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate. Patients were classified into three groups according to the CT or MRI LI-RADS categorization: LR-M at both CT and MRI, at only one modality, or at neither CT or MRI. The 2-year RFS was compared among the groups. Results A total of 319 patients (mean age, 58.8 years ± 9.7 [SD]; 248 male patients) were included, with HCC lesions of 114 (35.7%) patients showing discrepant CT or MRI LI-RADS categorizations. LR-M categorization was more common at MRI than at CT (21.6% vs 6.0%; P < .001). Both CT (hazard ratio, 2.24; P = .03) and MRI (hazard ratio, 2.33; P = .002) LR-M categorizations were independently associated with the 2-year RFS rate. The 2-year RFS rate was lowest, intermediate, and highest in patients with HCC lesions categorized as LR-M at both modalities (33.3%), only one modality (63.3%), and neither modality (82.8%), respectively (P < .001). Conclusion LI-RADS categorization of HCC often differed between CT and MRI. LR-M categorization at either modality was independently associated with 2-year RFS, with the lowest survival observed when lesions were classified as LR-M with both modalities. Keywords: Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System, CT, MRI, Prognosis Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA 2026.