Document Type
Article
Department
Radiology
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the role of biphasic contrast-enhanced helical CT including Hepatic Arterial Phase (HAP) imaging with Portal Venous Phase (PVP) imaging, in the detection and characterization of hepatocellular carcinomas.Methods: The study included 40 patients (M = 26, F = 14) with histopathologically proven HCC. Age range was between 30-85 years (mean = 55) by following consecutive patients with cirrhosis in whom Hepatocellular carcinoma was diagnosed or suspected either by raised serum a (alpha)-fetoprotein level or Ultrasound.Results: Biphasic contrast-enhanced examination revealed a total of 85 lesions in these 40 patients, out of which 13 were unifocal, 12 showed a dominant mass with satellite lesions, 2 showed cluster of contiguous nodules and 13 were multifocal HCCs. Mean diameter was 3.1 cm, ranging from 0.8 to 14 cm. On HAP imaging 85% were detected. (hyperattenuating = 69, hypoattenuating = 3) while on PVP imaging detectibility was only 48% (hyperattenuating = 2, hypoattenuating = 39). Hence detectibility was significantly (p = 0.008) superior in HAP as compared to PVP imaging. In 7 patients (17%) tumor was visible only on HAP images. Venous invasion was present in 12 patients (30%) while arterio-portal shunting was seen in 5 patients (13%).CONCLUSION: Biphasic contrast enhanced helical CT is a useful method in detection and characterization of HCC.
Publication (Name of Journal)
Journal of Pakistan Medical Association
Recommended Citation
Yaqoob, J.,
Bari, V.,
Usman, M. U.,
Munir, K.,
Mosharaf, F.,
Akhtar, W.
(2004). The evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma with biphasic contrast enhanced helical CT scan. Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, 54(3), 123-127.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_radiol/263
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