Abstract
Background: Spiral computed tomography (CT) can image the liver during arterial and late phases of contrast and optimize the evaluation of hypervascular tumor. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relative value of arterial- and late-phase spiral CT in the detection of hepatocellular carcinomas.
Methods: Fifty-eight patients with hepatocellular carcinomas underwent two-phase spiral CT examination with 10-mm collimation at 10 mm/s table speed (Siemens Somatom Plus S), and 120 mL of contrast material (36 g iodine) was injected at the rate of 3 mL/s. CT images of hepatic arterial and late phases were obtained with a 35-s and 180-s delay, respectively.
Results: In 58 patients, 111 hepatocellular carcinoma lesions were seen. The arterial phase detected 93 (84%) and the late phase 75 (68%) lesions (p<0.01). The arterial phase detected more lesions in 11 patients, and the late phase detected more in two patients and an equal number in 45 patients. If lesions larger than 2 cm are excluded, the arterial phase detected 40 (74%) and the late phase 21 (39%) of 54 lesions (p<0.001).
Conclusion: The arterial phase of spiral CT greatly improves the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma when compared with the late phase.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bluemke DA, Fishman EK. Spiral CT of the liver. AJR 1993;160:787–792
Longmaid HE, Dupuy DE, Kane RA, et al. Noninvasive liver imaging new techniques and practical strategies. Sem Ultrasound CT MRI 1992;13:377–398
Polger M, Seltzer SE, Silverman SG. Spiral CT of the abdomen: region coverage with a 24-second breath-hold. Abdom Imaging 1994;19:213–216
Heiken JP, Brink JA, McClennan BL, et al. Dynamic contrast-enhanced CT of the liver: comparison of contrast medium injection rates and uniphasic and biphasic injection protocols. Radiology 1993;187:327–331
Kihara Y, Tamura S, Yuki Y, et al. Optimal timing for delineation of hepatocellular carcinoma in dynamic CT. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1993;17:719–722
Dodd GD, Baron RL. Investigation of contrast enhancement in CT of the liver: the need for improved methods. AJR 1993;160:643–646
Small WC, Nelson RC, Bernardino ME, et al. Contrast-enhanced spiral CT of the liver: effect of different amounts and injection rates of contrast material on early contrast enhancement. AJR 1994;163:87–92
Foley WD. Dynamic hepatic CT. Radiology 1989;170:617–622
Walkey MM. Dynamic hepatic CT: how many years will it take til we learn? Radiology 1991;181:17–18
Cox IH, Foley WD, Hoffmann RG. Right window for dynamic hepatic CT. Radiology 1991;181:18–21
Zeman RK, Clements LA, Silverman PM, et al. CT of the liver: a survey of prevailing methods for administration of contrast material. AJR 1988;150:107–109
Foley WD, Hoffmann RG, Quiroz FA, et al. Hepatic helical CT: contrast material injection protocol. Radiology 1994;192:367–371
Freeny PC, von Ingersleben G, Gardner JC, et al. Hepatic contrast enhancement during spiral CT: effect of reduction of intravenous contrast material volume and concentration [Abstract]. Radiology 1994;193(P):165
Brink JA, Heiken JP, Forman HP, et al. Reduction of intravenous contrast material required for hepatic spiral CT [Abstract]. Radiology 1994;193(P):165
Heiken JP, Brink JA, Vannier MW. Spiral (helical) CT. Radiology 1993;189:647–656
Ohashi I, Hanafusa K, Yoshida T. Small hepatocellular carcinomas: two-phase dynamic incremental CT in detection and evaluation. Radiology 1993;189:851–855
Araki T, Itai Y, Furui S, et al. Dynamic CT densitometry of hepatic tumors. AJR 1980;135:1037–1043
Hosoki T, Chatani M, Mori S. Dynamic computed tomography of hepatocellular carcinoma. AJR 1982;139:1099–1106
Choi BI, Takayasu K, Han MC. Small hepatocellular carcinomas and associated nodular lesions of the liver; pathology, pathogenesis, and imaging findings. AJR 1993;160:1177–1187
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Choi, B.I., Cho, J.M., Han, J.K. et al. Spiral CT for the detection of hepatocellular carcinomas: relative value of arterial- and late-phase scanning. Abdom Imaging 21, 440–444 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002619900099
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002619900099